Veteran Ghanaian actor Fred Nii Amugi has described himself as one of the most fortunate actors to emerge from Ghana’s film industry. In a recent interview on Joy Prime’s Prime Morning, Amugi, who never attended the School of Performing Arts, attributed his success to hard work and discipline.
Despite lacking formal training, Amugi has built a distinguished career through dedication and self-learning. “I was taught all the disciplines that go with acting, and many think I was at the School of Performing Arts, which I never was. I’m one of the luckiest actors Ghana has produced. In those days, the lecturers at the School of Performing Arts served as my mentors so, I had my tuition outside the school,” he shared.
Amugi stressed the significance of absorbing and following the guidance of directors, a practice he believes was essential to his career development.
However, the seasoned actor also voiced concerns about current industry trends. He expressed worry over some practitioners who, according to him, resort to “juju” (witchcraft) to advance their careers, a practice he believes hampers the industry’s growth.
“We hear about people using ‘juju’ to get roles and other things. There is a speck of truth in every rumour that you hear. So, if you’ve heard people say it, it means something of that nature is happening, but when you have a good heart, God watches over you,” he explained.
Amugi further criticized the competitive nature of the industry, questioning why individuals would seek to undermine others’ progress. “I ask myself, if I get a promotion and you think I didn’t deserve it, so you cut me off. I’m dead and gone. You’re not going to take that seat anyway, so what’s your problem? God doesn’t like competition. He knows you cannot compete with Him, but when you bring these things, He would want to show you a few things that will tell you that what you’ve gotten to will not help, and this is the result now,” he concluded.
