Ghanaian veteran actress Rose Mensah, popularly known as Kyeiwaa, has opened up about the financial hardships she endured during her acting career. In a recent Facebook post, the actress explained that the income from her movies was insufficient to sustain the lifestyle expected of a celebrity, prompting her to seek work overseas.
She recounted how, despite her films regularly screening, she struggled to afford basic comforts and feared becoming emotionally drained if she could not find alternative income. "I realised that if I don't find something to do or somewhere to be, I will just be miserable. I might even die because of the misery and pain, and nobody will understand what I am going through," she said.
To avoid financial stagnation, Kyeiwaa admitted she would take any available job. She recalled a moment when she rode a trotro, a popular public transport vehicle, while her movies were still showing. Passengers who recognised her questioned why an actress would fight for a seat like a regular commuter. "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 reflected.
That incident prompted her to consider moving abroad for better opportunities. She has worked in the United States carrying salt and washing chicken coops, jobs that drew criticism from some who felt a public figure should not take such work. "People didn't see that side. 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 said.
Initially she chose not to respond to the mockery, but later decided to explain publicly that her actions were driven by necessity rather than vanity. "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.
Kyeiwaa urged the public to support those who take honest work to improve their circumstances, rather than shame them. She stressed that being a public figure does not automatically confer financial comfort and that her move to the United States and willingness to take on varied jobs should be seen as an effort to build a better life.
