Ghanaian actor Van Vicker has rejected claims that he pulled out of a movie linked to actor and filmmaker Kwadwo Nkansah, popularly known as Lilwin, insisting that he had never formally committed to the production.
The actor, in a statement issued on August 11, 2026, said discussions over his possible involvement were still ongoing when the filmmakers settled on production dates.
Van Vicker also pushed back against any suggestion that he deliberately backed out of the project at the last minute, describing such a narrative as an attempt to create misleading publicity around the film.
“I refuse to be part of any misleading or mischievous promotional stunt,” Van Vicker said.
He explained that the initial contact came from a director identified as Big Matt, who told him he was working on behalf of Lil Win. According to Van Vicker, the director approached him about appearing in two different productions that were scheduled to be filmed in Kumasi.
The actor said the first proposed shooting dates did not work with his schedule. Big Matt subsequently suggested alternative dates, which led Van Vicker to consider whether he could make room for the project.
At that stage, however, Van Vicker said he had not given a final commitment. He requested the scripts and indicated that he would first assess his availability before making a decision.
He acknowledged that his demanding schedule sometimes made it difficult to answer calls immediately, but maintained that he made efforts to return calls or respond whenever he was unavailable.
According to Van Vicker, the issue was eventually resolved several days before production was scheduled to begin, when he informed Big Matt that existing commitments and his workload would prevent him from joining the project.
He said the production team subsequently tried to find a middle ground by shortening the proposed period for his involvement. What was initially expected to require three or four days was reduced to two days in an attempt to make the arrangement possible.
Van Vicker, however, said the adjustment was still not enough to overcome his scheduling difficulties, leaving him with no option but to decline the role.
He also revealed that Big Matt later told him the script had been written specifically with him in mind. Van Vicker said that information should have been disclosed at the outset because it could have affected his decision, although his availability remained the biggest obstacle.
“He mentioned that the script had been written specifically for me. I noted that he should have shared that detail from the very beginning, as it might have influenced my consideration, though availability remained the primary constraint,” Van Vicker stated.
The actor was particularly firm in rejecting the claim that he cancelled his appearance just one day before filming.
He argued that such a claim could not be accurate because there had been no formal agreement, no confirmed shooting dates and no discussion or conclusion on his professional fee.
“Accusations that I canceled just one day before filming are false for three clear reasons: 1. I never agreed to join the project. We were still deliberating the matter. 2. I never confirmed any shooting dates. 3. We never discussed nor finalized my professional fees. Big Matt and Lil Win scheduled their production dates, assuming I would participate, and they are now accusing me of cancelling,” he stated.
Van Vicker’s account suggests that the disagreement stemmed largely from different understandings of where negotiations stood, with the production team apparently proceeding on the assumption that his participation had been secured while the actor considered the discussions incomplete.
He further stressed that declining one role because of scheduling conflicts should not be treated as a setback for a production, pointing out that Ghana’s film industry has a wide pool of capable performers.
According to him, filmmakers have several talented actors to choose from when an actor’s availability does not align with their production plans.
