Celebrated playwright and CEO of Roverman Productions, Uncle Ebo Whyte, has challenged the long-held belief that Ghanaians are naturally hospitable, arguing that the kindness often praised is largely reserved for foreigners rather than fellow citizens.
He lamented how Ghanaians often make life unnecessarily difficult for one another while going out of their way to support outsiders. “People say Ghanaians are hospitable. That is not true. We are hospitable to foreigners,” he said.
“It is about time we become hospitable to our own. Because if we don’t, what happens is that foreigners will look down on us. They come here with nothing, we make life easy for them, and they succeed. Meanwhile, we are busy sabotaging our fellow Ghanaians.”
Uncle Ebo Whyte
The playwright described life in Ghana as a struggle for locals, saying it often feels like a punishment to be born Ghanaian. “Ghana will make you sweat unnecessarily. Sometimes it’s almost as if Ghanaians are determined to punish anybody who allows himself to be born a Ghanaian,” he remarked.
According to him, Ghanaians are quick to uplift foreigners but reluctant to celebrate or support their own people.
“If I were a Nigerian, a South African, European, or American doing what I am doing in Ghana, it would be celebrated. But because I am Ghanaian, I have to struggle. That is Ghana. We don’t want to see our own prospering. We don’t want to see a Ghanaian doing well. Yet, if it’s a foreigner, we don’t mind.”
Uncle Ebo Whyte
He warned that this mindset is a major factor driving many citizens to seek greener pastures abroad.
“The day we change that mindset, no Ghanaian will have to leave Ghana. All the people queuing for visas, all the people risking their lives through the desert to get to Europe, it will stop. Because the truth is, you can’t get the quality of life you can have in Ghana anywhere else. Ghana is a blessed place, but unfortunately, the people are not making it easy for each other.”
Uncle Ebo Whyte
Uncle Ebo urged Ghanaians to change how they treat one another, emphasizing that the country’s progress depends on collective support and celebration of local talent and effort.
“If there’s one thing we must change, it is this: a Ghanaian supporting another Ghanaian, rooting for another Ghanaian, celebrating another Ghanaian. Until we do that, we will go nowhere. More seriously, we will create an environment where foreigners will always be ahead of us and will never respect us.”
Uncle Ebo Whyte
He concluded with a powerful call to action.
“It’s up to you and me. If you see a Ghanaian doing something, that’s your brother, that’s your sister. Whatever you can do to help that person, do it. That is the only way we can keep faith in this nation.”
Uncle Ebo Whyte
Uncle Ebo Whyte Seeks Passion Over Talent At Auditions
The renowned playwright and CEO of Roverman Productions revealed that when it comes to auditions, passion and determination matter more to him than raw talent.
Sharing insights into his selection process, he explained that the creative industry requires total commitment, not half-hearted effort.
“I don’t need you to come fully prepared. When I hold an audition, I’m looking for passion. I’m looking for the determination to pay any price and to make sacrifices for this, because the creative field isn’t for those who are just dabbling in it. You either immerse yourself in it or get out.”
Uncle Ebo Whyte
According to him, talent is not his main criterion, as years of experience have taught him how to shape performers into stars.
“I don’t even look for talent. I wrote and directed my first play in 1975, so I know how to turn anyone into a star. What I can’t do is turn you into a singer. For that, I need you to already know how to sing. At the very least, you must be able to sing better than me, which is a very low bar, so just about everyone qualifies.”
Uncle Ebo Whyte
For the playwright, what matters most is the drive to give one’s all.
“I’m just looking for passion. I’m looking for interest. Someone who says, ‘I really want to do this. I’m not entirely sure whether I can, but I really, really want to try.’ Okay, then let’s give it a go. That’s how I do it.”
Uncle Ebo Whyte
