AT a time when controversy has become almost a currency in the entertainment industry, actress and television personality Abena Kyei Boakye is choosing a different path by keeping her name clean and giving young people a positive example to look up to.
For Abena, being in the public eye is not just about staying relevant or generating headlines. She believes her conduct matters, particularly when young people are watching and look up to her.
Speaking with the Graphic Showbiz at her unveiling as brand ambassador for Glow Washing Powder recently at the ESP Hotel at Labone, Accra, the 2011 Ghana’s Most Beautiful contestant said she was convinced maintaining a respectable public image was also beginning to pay off commercially.
“I have always believed that you don’t have to create controversy or put your private life out there just to remain relevant in this industry. Young people are watching us and I want them to see me as someone they can look up to.
“For me, it is important to protect the name I have built, conduct myself with dignity and let my work speak for me. I believe that when you carry yourself well and stay true to your values, the right opportunities will come. These ambassadorial deals are a reflection of the trust brands have in the person I have become,” she said.
Earlier this year, Abena was also unveiled as an ambassador for Ready White Oats by HG Ready Consumables alongside gospel musicians DSP Kofi Sarpong and Piesie Esther and actress Emelia Brobbey.
According to Abena, these partnerships are more than just commercial opportunities. They reinforce the importance she places on the image she has built over the years.
Unlike some public figures who frequently find themselves at the centre of social media controversies, she has largely kept her private life away from the drama that often dominates showbiz conversations.
She believes that is important because of the influence public figures wield, especially among young people.
“I don’t believe controversy should be the price you pay for relevance. I want to build a career that people will respect not only today but many years from now. So, I am very conscious of the things I say, the company I keep and the image I project.
“I would rather be known for my work, my values and the impact I make than for controversies that will only give me attention for a short period,” she added.
That philosophy has followed her from her days as a contestant on TV3’s Ghana’s Most Beautiful in 2011, where she represented the Brong Ahafo Region and emerged third runner-up, to her career in broadcasting, acting, entrepreneurship and philanthropy.
She worked with Kantanka TV, hosting the Fontomfrom Morning Show for more than four years before joining UTV in 2024.
Beyond television, she has continued to expand her interests through entrepreneurship and philanthropy, including her work with the Eno Boakyewaa Foundation and Suzzymens Ventures.
Her academic journey has also been extensive, with qualifications in Agricultural Engineering, Management Studies and International Relations and Diplomacy.
These different chapters, she believes, are part of a bigger journey of personal development and building a legacy that goes beyond entertainment.
At the Glow unveiling, Abena described it all as “the beginning of a beautiful partnership” and said the brand represented freshness, confidence and the feeling that comes with being clean and ready for the world.
