Ghanaian actor and producer Fiifi Coleman has called for urgent action to address the long-neglected plight of aged actors in the country.
Speaking at the launch of the Private Actors Welfare Scheme, an insurance initiative by Fiifi Coleman Productions, held at the Marriott Hotel in Accra on Saturday, January 4, Coleman emphasized that the issue extends beyond a crisis, describing it as a systemic failure.
According to him, many veteran actors, who once brought joy and inspiration to millions, now face financial struggles and health challenges in their old age. “How many times have we seen our colleagues fall sick and watch helplessly as the public rallies to raise funds for their healthcare?” he questioned. “How many funerals have we attended wondering how those who entertained millions couldn’t afford a dignified farewell?”
Coleman expressed disappointment in the industry’s inability to create a sustainable system to support these trailblazers, lamenting that they are often left at the mercy of public donations. “This isn’t just a crisis but a failed work. A failure of an industry to protect its own. A failure of a community to ensure the hands that feed them and built our dreams don’t crumble in despair,” he added.
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In paying tribute to late actors such as S.K. Ampofo, George Williams, Ekow Blankson, Super OD, Bob Santo, Araba Stamp, and Psalm Adjeteyfio, as well as living legends like Fred Amugi, Ben Abdallah, Mawuli Semevor, and Edinam Atatsi, Fiifi Coleman acknowledged their contributions to the Ghanaian film industry. He credited these pioneers with laying the foundation for the younger generation to thrive and called on his colleagues to adopt measures to support their ailing peers.
“What Fiifi Coleman Productions is trying to do here is to encourage those of us lucky to be in this industry in this age to be blessed with money, to be blessed with the wherewithal, to be blessed with the grace to affect other people’s lives, to support our veterans,” he stated.
The Private Actors Welfare Scheme, in collaboration with Hollard Insurance, seeks to provide financial security for actors in their later years. The initiative will ensure that actors are not left to rely solely on public appeals for assistance during crises but are supported throughout their lives.
Fiifi Coleman also challenged his colleagues to adopt and support an aged actor, especially those unable to afford insurance premiums. “If social media had been in existence back in the day, some of us might be driving the biggest Benz cars, and the same goes for some aged actors who set the pace but couldn’t enjoy the fruits of their labour,” he remarked.
The scheme is a groundbreaking effort to secure the future of actors and serves as a wake-up call for the entertainment industry to take responsibility for its own.
