Award-winning Ghanaian musician Samini has expressed concerns over the poor remuneration of actors in Ghana’s film industry, stating that the pay structure does not match the effort actors put into their craft.
Speaking on a podcast, the celebrated musician revealed that his personal experiences on movie sets have given him a firsthand understanding of the challenges actors face, particularly when it comes to compensation.
While responding to a question about why he hasn’t pursued acting more seriously despite his evident talent, Samini admitted that the industry is too draining, both physically and financially.
“It’s a very, very draining profession to be in,” he noted, emphasizing that he holds no disrespect for the film industry but believes actors deserve better.
The dancehall icon, who has graced multiple movie sets in the past, revealed that actors are severely underpaid compared to musicians, despite both being part of the entertainment industry. He illustrated this disparity by comparing performance rates for musicians versus actor fees in 2025.
According to Samini, A-list musicians can command between GHS 150,000 to GHS 250,000 for a full-band live performance. Even lesser-known musicians can earn GHS 15,000 to GHS 20,000 for a 30-minute performance in Accra.However, when it comes to actors, the situation is vastly different.
Samini disclosed that even A-list actors struggle to secure GHS 10,000 to GHS 25,000 for an entire movie project, which often requires them to dedicate up to three weeks of their time on set. “Some of the big names are able to push for maybe GHS 20,000 to GHS 25,000, but that even depends on who is hiring them,” he explained.
Meanwhile, lesser-known actors are paid as little as GHS 2,000 for weeks of work, a stark contrast to a musician earning GHS 15,000 for just three songs. “It’s crazy, and something has to be done about it,” he stated passionately.
Samini is advocating for a standardized actor pay structure or regulated pay system in the film industry, similar to what exists in music. He proposed that industry players should set a minimum pay structure to ensure that actors are fairly compensated.
“If for nothing at all, there should be some form of monitoring so they can control remuneration for actors,” he suggested.
He further exemplified that A-list actors for instance, should not be paid below GHS 50,000 per movie. B-list actors should earn at least GHS 30,000 and no mainstream actor should be paid less than GHS 15,000 for any role.
Samini believes that a structured and fair payment system will ultimately improve the livelihoods of actors and elevate the quality of Ghanaian films. In his concluding remarks, Samini urged producers, directors, and industry stakeholders to re-evaluate how they compensate actors.
“I think you can afford to pay them slightly more,” he emphasized, adding that the hard work of actors deserves to be recognized just as much as musicians’ contributions to entertainment.
His sentiments have sparked an industry-wide conversation about the financial realities of acting in Ghana and whether the film sector can be restructured to benefit all stakeholders fairly.
As the conversation continues, many hope that Samini’s voice will ignite a movement for better pay and conditions for Ghanaian actors, ensuring that the film industry thrives just as much as music has in recent years.
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