Kumawood veteran Kyeiwaa says earnings from acting in Ghana were not enough to meet her basic needs, prompting her to travel to the United States in search of a more reliable income.
The actress, whose real name is Rose Mensah, said her financial difficulties continued even when her films were being shown regularly on television.
In a Facebook post, Kyeiwaa recalled travelling on a commercial minibus, known locally as a trotro, while her films were on air. Fellow passengers recognised her and questioned why a well-known actress was competing for a seat on public transport.
“When everybody saw me, they were asking how an actress could be taking trotro and fighting for space in a public vehicle,” she said.
“They felt that because I was an actress, I wasn’t supposed to be doing that. When I got home, I was very sad.”
Kyeiwaa returned to Ghanaian television screens in 2023 after spending 10 years away. She married in the United States in 2020.
The experience led her to fear that she could face severe hardship if she remained without a dependable source of income. She therefore decided that finding work abroad was necessary, regardless of the type of job involved.
“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 said.
The actress has previously encouraged young people to place greater emphasis on education. She also spoke about the criticism she received online after videos and reports emerged showing her carrying salt and washing chicken coops in the United States.
Kyeiwaa said the work provided her with money each week, but that many people ignored the practical reason she had taken those jobs.
“At the end of the week, I was getting something from the work I was doing, but people didn’t see that side,” she said.
“They rather focused on the fact that I was an actress and questioned why I was doing those jobs. They said all sorts of things to embarrass and disgrace me online.”
She called for greater respect for people who undertake honest work to support themselves, regardless of their public profile.
Kyeiwaa said being recognised as an actress did not guarantee financial security, a concern that reflects recent appeals from the Ghana Actors Guild for improved support for veteran performers.
