Before his foray into the world of theatre, renowned Ghanaian playwright and CEO of Roverman Productions, Uncle Ebo Whyte, faced his fair share of turbulence.
These challenges were part of the building blocks to his success as one of the greatest playwrights in Ghana.
A significant challenge occurred when he unexpectedly lost his job as the head of marketing and sales at a leading company in 1991.
According to Ebo Whyte, he was accused of diverting business to a new venture he allegedly founded. Whyte defended himself, asserting he did not own any such business, but to no avail.
Speaking to GhanaWeb TV in the freshly released documentary, “The Uncle Ebo Whyte Story: ‘A Legacy of Inspiration & Creativity,” his wife, Florence Sandra Whyte, recounted the difficult period, describing the day he came home with boxes on September 26, 1991.
"We normally have our tea times at the end of the month. So on that Thursday, we started preparing the small chops and things because there were women in my house. And here was my husband coming with boxes and I asked him, ‘What is wrong?’ He said, ‘I have been sacked’," she recalled.
Despite the shock and uncertainty, Florence maintained her faith, believing that God would provide. The couple had to leave their official residence and relocate, facing numerous challenges along the way.
Florence highlighted the support they received from Honourable Josephine Ndazi, Esq., who offered Ebo a position at her company, even though it couldn’t pay him sufficiently.
"She was one of the people who really helped us. She called me one day and said, ‘Our company is now coming up and uncle, at his level, I don’t think we can pay him sufficiently, but talk to him if he will just accept so that he will not be in the house.’
“He accepted it. So when he’s going to work, no car, nothing, but he will go and work and come,” she narrated.
Today, with over 55 plays to his name, Uncle Ebo Whyte is celebrated for his resilience and contributions to Ghanaian theatre, proving that persistence and passion can overcome even the toughest obstacles.
Watch the full documentary on Uncle Ebo Whyte below:
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