Actress Joselyn Dumas has said that most event organisers and individuals organising events in Ghana is part of the reasons why creative arts in Ghana is failing.
According to her, most organizations do not give regard to the talent of most people in the creative arts industry and hence fail to pat them for the work done whenever they are contracted to do a job.
The actress and radio personality who was speaking to Accra-based Hitz FM noted that some Ghanaians are of the view that female celebrities warm the bed of rich men in order to make a living but indicated that is not the situation but rather they work very hard to earn a living.
She said “It’s not easy out there…Contrary to what people think, a lot of us in the industry are making an honest living and this is how we make our living so if you don’t pay, how am I going to live”.
“You call us ‘Ashawobrities’ and claim there is no celebrity in Ghana. How do you expect some of us to live and survive if you don’t pay us what is owed us and because you feel like the talent is not tangible so you’re not going to pay me or someone sitting there will think, why are you giving this girl this amount for just talking. But it’s not just talking. Even when you go out, you pay for the dress you wear and might not be able to repeat same dress at other places, the make up artist, your hair are all paid for and by the time you’re done that cheque you’re getting, you’re spending one-third of it.”
She added: “I even do emceeing for free sometimes but it’s all about communication. I’ve been trying to be civil with this gentleman (Sadiq Abdulai) and I know him and worked with him and he is an amazing person who believes in the arts but at the end of the day, you can’t play with my daily bread”.
“This is what we know and do for a living. This is why our industry is actually suffering because nobody is paying for anything. Everybody is taking everyone for granted in the industry. When you hire a talent pay the person because my talent is what I’m offering to the table and your payment is what you’re bringing to the table… I’ve been able to fulfill my bargain, fulfill yours too.”
