Veteran Ghanaian actress Rose Mensah, popularly known as Kyeiwaa, has spoken about the financial difficulties she faced during her acting career.
She said she sought opportunities abroad because acting in Ghana did not provide enough income.
In a recent Facebook post, the actress said that although her movies were regularly showing and she remained a familiar face in the industry, she struggled financially and could not afford the comfortable lifestyle many people expected her to have as a celebrity.
She said things became so difficult that she feared becoming miserable and emotionally drained if she could not find another source of income.
“I realised that if I don't find something to do or somewhere to be, I will just be miserable. I might even die because of the misery and pain, and nobody will understand what I am going through,” she said.
Kyeiwaa explained that she was determined to support herself and would take any available job rather than remain financially stranded.
“Wherever there is work, I always go in for it because I know I don't like being stranded. I will do whatever it takes to work,” she added.
She described the experience of being a popular actress without money as especially painful. She recalled an occasion when she took a commercial vehicle, popularly known as a trotro, while her movies were still showing.
According to her, some passengers who recognized her asked why an actress would take public transportation and struggle to find a seat like other commuters.
“When everybody saw me, they were asking how an actress could be taking trotro and fighting for space in a public vehicle. They felt that because I was an actress, I wasn't supposed to be doing that. When I got home, I was very sad,” she recalled.
She said the incident led her to reflect on her financial situation and consider traveling abroad in search of better opportunities.
“That was how I thought about travelling outside the country to look for greener pastures. I thought that even if I had to carry salt or do any other work, I would do it because I needed to survive,” she said.
Kyeiwaa also addressed the criticism she faced after taking on various jobs abroad, including carrying salt and washing chicken coops.
She said some people mocked her for doing that work because she was a public figure, rather than recognizing her efforts to earn a living.
“At the end of the week, I was getting something from the work I was doing, but people didn't see that side. They rather focused on the fact that I was an actress and questioned why I was doing those jobs. They said all sorts of things to embarrass and disgrace me online,” she said.
The actress said she initially chose not to respond to the criticism but had decided to speak publicly to explain what led her to take on those jobs.
“If I were in Ghana working and making enough money for myself, I wouldn't have been doing all those things abroad. I am not the only person going through difficulties. People should understand that I was trying to help myself,” she added.
She also urged the public to encourage people who take on honest work to improve their circumstances, rather than make them feel ashamed.
Kyeiwaa said her move to the United States and willingness to take on different jobs should be seen as an effort to build a better life.
She questioned why people would ridicule someone who had worked hard to reach a place like America, instead of appreciating the effort it took.
The actress urged the public to support people facing difficult times, stressing that being a public figure does not mean someone is financially comfortable.
