Martha Ankomah Discusses Colourism in Ghana’s Film Industry: 'The Pressure to Bleach Was Overwhelming

Ghanaian actress Martha Ankomah has bravely spoken out about the issue of colourism in the local film industry, shedding light on the struggles that dark-skinned actors face in an industry where lighter skin is often preferred. She revealed that many actors have been subjected to significant pressure to bleach their skin to fit the beauty standards perceived by industry professionals.

At the PCH Hangouts 2025 Edition held at ICGC New Wine Temple in East Legon, Ankomah shared a personal experience where a producer criticized her for her skin tone. According to the actress, the producer remarked, “Martha, you are too black… the lights we use in acting, when we put the light on you, you won’t shine.” This comment reflected the deeply ingrained bias in the film industry, where darker skin tones are often seen as undesirable, and lighter skin is regarded as more “camera-friendly” or suitable for the screen.

This industry-wide bias led to a culture of colourism that influenced many of Ankomah’s colleagues to undergo skin bleaching. “Because of that pressure, most of my colleagues started bleaching, and that’s how come some of them are fair. If you’ve been watching Ghanaian movies for a while, you’ll know that some of them were not fair before, but now they are because they had to maintain it,” she explained. Her comments underscore the lengths that some individuals go to in order to meet the perceived beauty standards in the industry, even if it involves altering their natural appearance.

However, despite the immense pressure, Ankomah stood firm in her decision not to bleach her skin. She attributed her resilience to the wisdom and values instilled in her by her upbringing and faith. “I thank God for wisdom because the Bible says the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. I thank God for my parents… my dad was an Adventist, may he rest in peace, and my mom is a strict Pentecostal,” she shared, emphasizing the strength she derived from her strong moral foundation and spiritual beliefs.

Reflecting on her career journey, Ankomah acknowledged that her path to success was not without challenges. She noted that when she started in the industry, there were no social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or Twitter to help actors gain visibility. “It hasn’t been easy. It has just been the grace of God. When we started, there was nothing like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, or Twitter. It was just you being put on a poster,” she recalled. The actress highlighted how different the industry was in the past and how much more difficult it was to gain recognition and build a career without the support of modern social media tools.

In addition to discussing colourism and the challenges she faced as a dark-skinned actress, Ankomah also addressed the rumors that circulate about some actors allegedly engaging in compromising situations to advance their careers. While acknowledging that pressures exist in all industries, Ankomah emphasized that integrity and faith have been key to her success. “I’m sure wherever you are working too, people do all sorts of things just to be there. So it’s everywhere, trust me, but it takes the grace of God for you to say no to a lot of things,” she said, underscoring the importance of staying true to one’s values, even in the face of temptation or adversity.

Through her candid conversation, Ankomah shed light on the ongoing issue of colourism in the Ghanaian film industry and shared how her faith and personal principles helped her navigate the challenges, ultimately remaining true to herself.