“Strangers can help your business thrive, not Family” – James Gardiner

Ghanaian actor James Gardiner has addressed the controversy surrounding his recent birthday post on social media, which sparked a heated conversation. In an interview with Doreen Avio on the set of actress Kafui Danku’s upcoming movie “Fear Women,” Gardiner explained that his intention was not to point fingers but to express frustration about the lack of support for his pub from people he knows.

“I wasn’t calling people out, I was only complaining about people not supporting my pub,” Gardiner said. “I feel I have come to know that for a business to thrive, it’s not family but the people you do not know. I just wished the ones close to me and who have a good relationship with me would be the ones to show me love.”

Gardiner revealed that despite his efforts, his pub has struggled to gain traction, leading to his emotional post. “This was me just lamenting and yelling out to say I can’t call everybody because I did everything that I could and we’ve done everything by inviting people, bloggers, but there’s only so much gas left in everyone and you cannot keep going.”

He also highlighted the challenges of running a business in Ghana, stating, “Opening a business here in Ghana is very tough, let alone people not patronizing. It’s not a pleasant feeling having to invest in something and not making anything in return. This is our fourth year and it has been very tough.”

Gardiner emphasized that his post was meant to release pent-up emotions and address negative feedback. “My friends were surprised because I don’t even talk and I feel I have been keeping a lot of things inside for far too long and I just wanted to bring it out. I saw a lot of people say I was looking for sympathy but it was none of that. Everyone is entitled to their opinions and just because I know what I meant by that, it didn’t get to me.”