Modelling does not pay in Ghana
He has been modeling for nine years now and has many awards and accolades to his name as proof.
One look at him and one may think he’s got it all running smooth for him.
However, award-winning Ghanaian international model, Stephen Kojo Owusu, says modeling in Ghana is not a means of livelihood like it is elsewhere as it does not rake in the cash.
‘‘Models don’t get paid or are underpaid after doing a work, not fed and are taken for granted when they go for shows. It’s difficult for people to accept the truth but modeling in Ghana is a hobby, not a job to live by. People lie to models because they know that after all, at the end of the day, no one will hold them to ransom for their actions’’ he said.
To survive therefore, Stephen, aside being a model, also acts, runs a pub at Ashongman Estates and organises events. He blamed the lack of unity and cohesion between the various modeling associations as the main causes of models’ being sidelined in Ghana.
‘‘I see two associations trying to gather models to fight for their rights; Models Association of Ghana and Models’ Union of Ghana. It is good that at least there are people who have seen what models go through in Ghana. However, I get worried that in the fight for such a good cause, there are two different mouthpieces which I believe are based on personal interests.
If the government wants to intervene in the plight of the model, which of them is the Government going to deal with when addressing the issues? because they are two different associations with different structures claiming to help models’’ he said.
He also bemoaned the lack of structures and ignorance as challenges that make society maltreat models.
‘‘We don’t have the structures to make our industry vibrant and therefore make us able to live off our job. Therefore, people use the services of models and refuse to pay them, because at the end of the day, they walk around free since there is nobody or any strong organisation to compel them to pay the model.
There are no standards for the industry here. Most of the models themselves don’t know which categories of models they are because most of the modeling agencies that train them are ignorant of such things themselves. At the end of the day, the model turns out as a poor product since he or she doesn’t know his or her way around his or her supposed job.
The Blood and Chocolate actor suggested ways to help up the modeling industry in Ghana.
‘‘All the modeling agencies should come under one association which would be the mouthpiece for all models and their agents and agencies. A united front for all the models in the country will ensure that certain standards are set that will regulate how models are contracted in the society. It’s a serious issue, currently as we are speaking, models are going through a lot. One of us has been suspended because he tried fighting to be paid whereas the organisers of the Mercedes Benz Fashion Show which we were going to be featured in had decided not to pay us. He has every right to demand payment, it’s just that there was no one to speak for him and he also erred by using violence to send his message home.
That’s why I am also advising that every model must get must get a side job. If you stay at home, the little money you get from modeling won’t buy you the clothes and accessories you need for modeling contracts. The modeling world is squeezing us tight, so we must get something else doing in order to bring in the cash to brand ourselves right’’ he said.
Some of the awards Stephen has to his credit include Male Model of the year (2015 Fashion Icon Awards), Male Model of the Year (2015 AFROMA Fashion Awards), nominee for West Africa Fashion Awards twice in a roll and winner of the event in 2016. He was the face of then Zain Telecommunications on billboards, flyers, posters and on the internet, Printex TV adverts and also Face of Printex among others.
He also featured in Irene Logan’s I’m in Love with the Devil video and has starred in movies such as Contract by Sparrow Productions, Blood and Chocolate by Evance Productions and part of the top ten finalists in the Spirited Actor by Tracy Moore in 2011.