Ghanaian music icon Samini has raised concerns about the low earnings of actors in the country’s film industry, emphasizing that their remuneration does not match the effort and dedication they put into their craft.

During an appearance on the Sincerely Accra podcast, Samini reflected on his own experiences on movie sets, revealing that despite having acting talent, he has not pursued it as a career due to the physical and financial challenges involved.

“It’s a very, very draining profession to be in,” he remarked.

He noted a significant disparity between what musicians and actors earn, stressing that those in the film industry deserve better. He pointed out that A-list musicians can take home between GH₵150,000 and GH₵250,000 for a full-band live performance, while lesser-known musicians earn between GH₵15,000 and GH₵20,000 for a 30-minute show.

In contrast, A-list actors struggle to secure GH₵10,000 to GH₵20,000 for an entire film project, which may require up to three weeks of rigorous work on set.

“Some of the big names can push for up to GH₵25,000, but that even depends on who is hiring them. Meanwhile, lesser-known actors are sometimes paid as little as GH₵2,000 for weeks of work. It’s crazy, and something has to be done about it,” he stated.

To address this issue, Samini proposed a structured payment system that ensures fair compensation. He suggested that A-list actors should receive no less than GH₵50,000 per movie, B-list actors should be paid at least GH₵30,000, and no mainstream actor should earn below GH₵15,000 for any role.

According to him, implementing such a structure would not only improve the financial well-being of actors but also enhance the overall quality of Ghanaian films. He urged producers, directors, and key industry players to reassess how actors are compensated.

“I think you can afford to pay them slightly more,” he added.