Producers and directors have sidelined us - Veteran actress

In recent times, several concerns have been raised about older actors and actress being sidelined by some producers in the Ghanaian movie industry especially the ones produced on the local dialect also known as Kumawood’.

Outspoken Ghanaian actress, Mary Akua Afriyie Forson mainly known as Afriyie Forson or ‘Alegantus’ has also stated and confirmed that movie producers and directors have sidelined some older actors and actress including herself in the movie industry for reasons best known to them.

She lamented bitterly saying “producers do not contact I and other older actors for movie roles anymore. I can still act so do the others, but I don’t understand why they don’t call us. They have sidelined us but whenever I get a call, I will gladly go and pick up the role because I believe in my talent of acting”.

Commenting on her most challenging role during her active acting days on Breeze 90.9, she stated that “ picking a role in a movie titled ‘Odaseni’ as a married woman whose husband had no time and care for her sexually was the most challenging because the situation according to the script compelled her to have an affair with her husband’s nephew.

My real husband, Mr. Kweku Boadu Kaakyira however commended me for playing the role so well and making it real (laughing), this was a relieve she added.

Mary Akua Afriyie Forson Born in Tafo on the 23rd of March 1956 in the Ashanti region but a native of Cape Coast to Mr. John Arthur and Madam Sabina Hagan both from the central region but based in the Ashanti region of Ghana, Afriyie Forson passed through elementary school to primary school at Tafo Methodist in Ashanti region.

According to Afriyie, she could not forward her education after primary in 1974 because her parents could not help but one thing she did not throw away was her story books. She could not do without her book even on travelling buses.

She then turned to buying and selling little goods ranging from ladies bras, panties, men’s boxer shorts and soon.

She would go to Accra and Takoradi port to get these goods and back to Kumasi to sell them.

At age 45, Afriyie Forson realized she had the potentials of acting so she went to see her friend, Naana Hayford also an actress who helped her with advices.

She is seen in both sides of the movie industry; English movies and Kumahood, perfect in both English and Twi.

Some of the she has featured in include Mr. HIPC, Kumasi yonkor, Yunko Bi Ye Musuo, Nyankonton, Agye Dabi and so on; she is blessed with 3 children.