Accra: Ghanaian filmmaker Ama K. Abebrese has weighed in on the ongoing discussion surrounding fashion icon Nana Akua Addo's decision to revisit a decade-old comment made by actress Yvonne Nelson regarding Ghanaian celebrities and red carpet culture. Speaking on the issue, Ama K. Abebrese expressed disappointment over Nana Akua Addo's decision to bring up Yvonne Nelson's 2017 remarks, stressing that the focus of the Ghanaian film industry should be on growth, unity, and global recognition rather than revisiting old disagreements.
According to Ghana Web, while some people may view the situation as a simple disagreement, Ama believes it was unnecessary to revive comments that were made several years ago, particularly when Yvonne Nelson had not recently addressed the matter. 'Auntie, she's there minding her business. Don't go back almost 10 years. Let's do better,' Ama said while addressing Nana Akua Addo directly.
The actress acknowledged that the entertainment industry has evolved significantly over the years, especially in terms of fashion, branding, and red carpet appearances. She noted that while some actors are passionate about fashion and making a statement on the red carpet, others may not place much importance on it. 'We've all grown. We've all elevated from where a lot of us were. The truth is not every actor cares about the red carpet, and some people do,' she explained.
Ama further argued that Nana Akua Addo's actions could be perceived by the public as a jab at a fellow female actress and could cast a negative light on Ghana's creative industry at a time when there are many achievements worth celebrating. 'People are going to look at that as a jab at your fellow female actor. They're going to look at it as something negative on the Ghanaian celebrity culture as a whole,' she said.
The actress emphasised that the creative industry in Ghana and Africa is gaining international attention, with global producers and filmmakers showing interest in working on the continent. Therefore, she believes stakeholders should concentrate on promoting the positive developments within the industry. 'Let's focus on building and elevating the movie industry, the film industry, and the creative industry in Ghana, in West Africa, and on the continent because we now live in a global village,' she added.
Concluding her remarks, Ama K. Abebrese clarified that her comments came from a place of love and a desire to see the Ghanaian entertainment industry thrive. 'Let's do better. Let's focus on the positives. Some people can choose to do their red carpet and kill it, and some people really don't care that much. The most important thing is that, as actors and celebrities, we do what is important to us,' she concluded.