Entertainment
“Being a Famous Actress Couldn’t Feed Me” – Kyeiwaa Reveals Why She Left Ghana for Menial Jobs
Veteran Ghanaian actress Rose Mensah, popularly known as Kyeiwaa, has opened up about the financial difficulties that influenced her decision to leave Ghana for the United States in search of better opportunities.
The actress explained that despite her popularity and years of experience in the Ghanaian movie industry, acting was not providing her with enough money to meet her financial needs and live comfortably.
According to Kyeiwaa, her situation became so challenging that she feared falling into depression if she remained without another source of income.
In a social media post, she disclosed that she was unwilling to remain at home without earning money and was prepared to accept any available job to support herself.
“I realised that if I don’t find something to do or somewhere to be, I will just be miserable. I might even be because of the misery and pain, and nobody will understand what I am going through,” she said.
She added that she has always been willing to work whenever an opportunity presents itself because she does not enjoy being idle or financially stranded.
“Wherever there is work, I always go in for it because I know I don’t like being stranded. I will do whatever it takes to work,” she stated.
Kyeiwaa recalled an experience that made her seriously question her financial situation while she was still actively appearing in movies.
She revealed that she once travelled in a commercial vehicle, popularly known as a trotro, at a time when her movies were still being shown on television.
The actress said some passengers who recognised her were surprised to see her using public transport and struggling to secure a seat like other commuters.
“When everybody saw me, they were asking how an actress could be taking trotro and fighting for space in a public vehicle. They felt that because I was an actress, I wasn’t supposed to be doing that. When I got home, I was very sad,” she recalled.
She explained that the experience made her consider relocating abroad, where she believed she could find better opportunities to earn a living.
Kyeiwaa said she was prepared to undertake even the most difficult jobs if that was what it would take to improve her financial circumstances.
“That was how I thought about travelling outside the country to look for greener pastures. I thought that even if I had to carry salt or do any other work, I would do it because I needed to survive,” she disclosed.
The veteran actress also addressed the negative comments and ridicule she received after videos and reports of her working abroad, including carrying salt and washing chicken coops, became public.
She expressed disappointment that rather than appreciating her determination to earn an honest living, some people chose to mock her because of her status as an actress.
Kyeiwaa indicated that she initially ignored the criticism but later decided to explain the circumstances that pushed her into taking up different jobs abroad.
According to her, people should understand that financial difficulties can affect anyone, regardless of their social standing or profession.
“If I were in Ghana working and making enough money for myself, I wouldn’t have been doing all those things abroad. I am not the only person going through difficulties. People should understand that I was trying to help myself,” she added.
She further appealed to the public to stop looking down on people who accept different kinds of employment to earn a living, stressing that no honest job should be considered shameful.
Kyeiwaa questioned why people would ridicule someone for working hard to survive in a foreign country instead of recognising the effort and determination involved.
The actress maintained that being a popular personality does not automatically guarantee financial security, urging the public to show understanding and support for people experiencing economic difficulties.
She explained that her decision to relocate to the United States and accept various jobs was motivated by her desire to survive, become financially stable and build a better life for herself.