Waakye talks career, marriage, ministry with Giovani

Veteran comic actor, Prince “Waakye” Yawson, has lifted his ban on speaking to the media.

In a rare interview with 3 FM’s Giovani Caleb, several months after a self-imposed exile from the press, the actor, screenwriter, and now, pastor-in-training, has looked back on his illustrious career, current trends in comedy, as well as his life as a minister of the gospel.

Discussing his road into ministry, Waakye recounted how, over several years, he kept getting messages from men of God, that he was destined to be a preacher.

“It started right here [TV3]. A lady told me that a man of God had told her to tell me that God wants me to work for Him[…] Then, Anytime I go to church, the pastor would call me, in front of the congregation, and tell me:’ look, God wants you to work for Him.’ It continued for a long time–[and] I kept changing churches; and every church I go [sic] to…same message.”

Waakye submitted to Giovani that this caused him to avoid going to church, in his quest to avoid such messages, and the pressures thereof. Following that, “certain things kept happening,” compelling him to finally heed to the call.

Currently single, an introverted Waakye indicated his desire to get married again, as it is required of pastors.

“As a man of God or as a preacher, you have to marry–and since you are a man, you have the urge to meet a woman. If you do that outside marriage, it’s something else, because the Bible tells us to flee from sexual sins. Even if you are married and you sleep with another woman outside your wife [sic], it’s also sin. So, why shouldn’t I marry, so that whenever I have the urge to meet with any woman, I can do so?”

Intrigued, Giovani probed: “so you’re marrying because of sex?”

“No, marriage is not about sex,” Waakye clarified. “Marriage is about friendship. You need someone to jaw-jaw with.”

Asked if he is seeing someone, Waakye replied in the negative, assuring though, that it will happen when the time is right.

Waakye also bemoaned the current state of the movie industry, conceding that it’s suffering, due to a lack of structures,the menace of piracy, as well as the “push him down syndrome.” He also lamented the current trends in comedies, troubled at how the culture of insults has replaced true comedic performance.

On what roles he missed playing, Waakye cited his “house boy,”recounting fondly how it allowed him to freely express his creativity.

He would still accept movie roles today, but favours priestly roles.

Touching on the nuggets for success, Waakye emphasized the place of modesty: “In everything, you need to respect. Humility is everything. If you’re the best, and you’re not humble, forget it, because, no matter how high you go, if you don’t respect; if you’re not humble, you’ll be brought down–so humility is everything.”

Waakye hails from Ekumfi Otuam and first broke to mainstream fame via TV drama series “Obra”. He has also appeared in popular films like Ogboo and Man Woman.

The 3 FM Drive airs weekdays between 2pm and 5:30pm on the 92.7 frequency dial.