GH misses out on Africa movie awards
Despite having six nominations in this year’s Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAAs), actress Yvonne Okoro did not win anything with her Contract movie.
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Her movie which was nominated for Best Actress, Best Director, Best Actor In a Leading Role, Achievement In Screenplay, Best Editing and Best Production Design missed out in all these categories at the ninth edition of the awards which was held last Saturday at Glory Hall Cultural Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria .
Rather it was the locally unsung 29-year-old Ghanaian Producer and Director, Akosua Adoma Owusu who won Best Short Film with her movie Kwaku Ananse.
Other winners on the night were: Best Actress, Florence Masebe from South Africa with Elelwani, Best Actor went to the late Justus Esiri from Nigeria for his role in the movie, Assassins. Niji Akanni won Best Director with Heroes and Zeroes, Confusion Na Wa from Nigeria won Best Film, Best Documentary went to Fueling Poverty from Nigeria while The Meeting won Achievement in Make-Up.
Held for the ninth time, the event started with a cultural performance after which MCs for the night, Ghanaian actress, Ama K. Abebrese and Nigeria comedian A Y called up industry players present.
Ghana was virtually missing at the event because while AY mentioned all the Nigerian actors, Ama K. could not introduce even one actor from Ghana, although A-list actors Lydia Forson, Kofi Adjorlolo, Yvonne Okoro, Prince David Osei, Eddie Nartey and Adjetey Anang, among others were seated in the front row .
Kofi Ajorlolo told Showbiz: “I have never been disappointed this way before, a big actor like me could not be recognised when Ama K indeed saw me. I felt very bad. I think, Ama K shouldn’t have been the MC at all, she was very bad on the night and let Ghana down”.
Actor Prince David Osei, also shared the same sentiment, according to him “ the whole idea was a flop. Perhaps, we shouldn’t have come for the ceremony at all. This is a big embarrassment.
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I felt like I’m nobody when, comedian AY was confidently mentioning the names of the Nigerian actors but not a single one from Ghana.
In an interview with sole Ghanaian winner, Akosua Adoma Owusu, she said “I have always dreamt to pick up an AMAA award for one of my films. I dedicate my award to my late father who taught me to appreciate Anansesem and stories about our culture. I am sure my father and the ancestors of our past would be so proud.”
Kwaku Ananse which features musician, Koo Nimo and Grace Omaboe (alias Maame Dokono) was also nominated for Best Short Film at the prestigious Berlinale Film Festival in Germany where it held its premiere in February.
She’s also known for other short movies such as Drexciya, Split Ends, I Feel Wonderful, and Me Broni Ba, which received awards and nominations at over 80 film festivals around the world.
Story: Kofi Duah/Graphic Showbiz