Ghanaian actor, Clement Bonney also known as Mr. Beautiful, has opened up about being sidelined by producers in the Kumawood movie industry due to his support for the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

He claimed many producers expressed concerns that casting him in their movies would affect sales, particularly in Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi which is the stronghold of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has a strong following.

According to Mr. Beautiful, the producers told him directly that his political affiliation with the NDC was not well-received in Kumasi, which made them hesitant to feature him in their films.

This, he believes, is a reflection of Ghana’s immature understanding of democracy, as in more established democracies like the United States, celebrities freely support political parties without it impacting their careers.

“We are not yet mature enough to understand democracy, so when I say it didn’t affect me, then it’s a lie. I was sidelined in the movie industry, which reduced the quality content my followers had to enjoy. There is only one Mr. Beautiful, so if you sideline me and think you can replace me with someone else, it won’t work,” Mr. Beautiful remarked in an interview on Adom FM’s Ofie Kwanso show.

He also recounted a separate incident in South Africa, where he was flown in to shoot a commercial. Upon learning of his affiliation with the NDC, the marketing director refused to proceed with him on the project, citing his political stance as the reason.

“They brought me back to Ghana,” he recalled, expressing his disappointment.

Drawing a comparison to the United States, Mr. Beautiful highlighted how American celebrities like Stevie Wonder can openly support political candidates without facing such repercussions.

He mentioned that Paul Gee, a prominent figure in Kumawood, had personally told him that they could not cast him in movies because the industry was dominated by people from Kumasi, many of whom support the NPP.

Mr. Beautiful also reflected on how his political activism from 2012 has inspired others to openly support their preferred political parties.

He emphasized that, political differences should not lead to enmity, comparing it to a football match between Hearts and Kotoko, where rivalry does not equate to hostility.

Source: Dennis Kofi Adu