Nkonkonsa Celebrity Gossip From Africa
Mawuli Ekpe Peter, a vocal member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and former vice chairman of the Nhyeaso constituency, has alleged that actress Mercy Asiedu turned down a $2 million government grant intended to support her film village project in Kunsu.
According to Ekpe Peter, popularly known as “Abro,” the government approached Mercy Asiedu during the search for a suitable location for its proposed film village project. Asiedu’s existing facility in Kunsu was deemed an ideal option due to the time and resources required to build a new village from scratch.
In a recent interview, Ekpe Peter claimed that the government, under the leadership of the then-Creative Arts Minister Barbara Oteng Gyasi, requested a proposal from Mercy Asiedu to facilitate the grant allocation. However, the actress reportedly declined to submit the required documentation.
“Nana Addo wanted to build a film village, and we were considering Kunsu because Mercy Asiedu already had an established project there. The government offered her $2 million to support it, but she refused to present a proposal,” Ekpe Peter stated.
He further revealed that the opportunity came shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic, during a period when the government was offering grants, not loans, to support creative arts projects.
“The government was giving out grants—free money—not loans. All she had to do was submit a proposal, and she would have received $2 million. But she refused, and the opportunity was lost when a new minister, Ibrahim Awal, took over after Oteng Gyasi,” he explained.
Ekpe Peter suggested that external influences may have contributed to Mercy Asiedu’s decision. He alleged that some individuals advised her to demand a larger grant of $5 million instead of accepting the $2 million offer.
“We were in a meeting at her home, and someone kept telling her to push for $5 million because it was a grant. That may have influenced her decision,” he added.
In his remarks, Ekpe Peter criticized actors who continue to support former President John Dramani Mahama, suggesting that the NPP government has provided more meaningful support to the arts and entertainment industry than Mahama’s administration.
“The actors supporting Mahama keep saying he gave them cars—small cars. But look at what the NPP is offering—substantial grants to develop the industry,” he asserted.
Mercy Asiedu has yet to respond to these allegations.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
