Martha Ankomah opens up about colourism and pressures in the Ghanaian movie industry
Ghanaian actress Martha Ankomah has opened up about the painful reality of colourism in the local film industry, revealing how dark-skinned actors are frequently overlooked and urged to alter their appearance to fit a narrow beauty ideal.
Speaking at the 2025 PCH Hangouts, held at ICGC New Wine Temple in East Legon, Ankomah shared a personal experience from the early days of her career. A producer, she recalled, once criticized her for being “too black.”
“Martha, you are too black… when we put the lights on you, you won’t shine,” she was told bluntly.
This, she said, was not an isolated incident. Ankomah noted that such biased remarks reflect a larger, unspoken standard within the industry—one that equates fairness with desirability and marketability.
“Because of that pressure, most of my colleagues started bleaching. That’s why some of them are fair today. If you’ve been watching Ghanaian films for a while, you’ll know some weren’t always this complexion—they had to maintain it just to stay in the game.”
Unlike many, Ankomah chose not to succumb. Her refusal to bleach, she said, was grounded in her values, her upbringing, and her faith.
“I thank God for wisdom, because the Bible says, ‘The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.’ I’m so grateful for my parents. My dad, may he rest in peace, was a strong Adventist, and my mom is a strict Pentecostal.”
Reflecting on her journey, she described how much tougher it was to build a career before the rise of digital platforms.
“It hasn’t been easy—it’s truly been the grace of God. When we started, there was no Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, or Twitter. Your face only got known if you were lucky enough to be on a movie poster.”
Addressing long-standing whispers about actors engaging in questionable acts to gain prominence, Ankomah emphasized that such pressures aren’t limited to the entertainment world.
“I believe it happens everywhere—people compromising themselves just to hold onto their jobs. But it takes the grace of God to stand your ground and say no.”
