Calm, collected and with a seemingly shy disposition, Actor and Theater Facilitator, Adjetey Anang is a married man who worships at the International Central Gospel Church where he is one of the Youth Facilitators. Growing up in Tema, through Baptist Church School, SOS School and then to Labone Senior High School for his secondary education, he describes his growing up period as fun and full of happiness. He grew up in a neighborhood he prefers to call diverse as it comprised of people of various classes, color and caliber in there. He has a sister and is the only son of his parents.
Adjetey, who is quite passionate about applied drama, emphasized the point that drama and film making should not always be about making money and commercializing. He admonished producers and other stakeholders to produce pieces that will seek to educate and change behaviours.
In a meeting with Truelife magazine, he gave his straight and honest answers to the following questions.
TM: (Truelife Magazine): What got you into acting?
AA: (Adjetey Anang): It was by chance. Mere coincidence. I accompanied my friend, Wakefield Akuoku to a rehearsal at GBC a long time ago. As fate would have it, one of the actors did not show up. The Director asked that I take the script and read those parts to aid in the rehearsal. He was impressed with my delivery. He asked if I had ever done anything close to acting. I said no and he said I would be a good actor. The next time, I accompanied Wakefield again and well, one opportunity led to the other and here I am today, by grace. The television series, “Things We Do For Love”, however propelled me, though I had been acting before then.
TM: Can you share two of your main challenges with us and what motivates you?
AA: At a point, the roles became boring because it was almost the same thing. Some producers or directors seemed to be comfortable with me playing certain roles only and that came with its own associated boredom. Another is the fact that I stick to my principles of not wanting to play certain acts, mainly sexual roles. Sometimes other people do not respect that. They think that once other actors are doing it, I must do it as well. On the issue of motivation, I believe I can impact the lives of other people through acting. Besides, I want to leave a mark in the industry, a mark of discipline with humility, so yes, that motivates me to keep going.
TM: What is your take on prayer and success? Do you think they are intertwined?
AA: Very much so. Often I hear people complain that prayer does not work or that they have prayed for one thing for so long. What I think is that prayer must be backed with a lot of faith. I love praying. I pray constantly and indeed, most things we gain in this life is as a result of prayer. I prayed about further schooling. I was a bit taken aback on how much it was going to cost me yet I received a full scholarship to study in Johannesburg, South Africa. Prayer helps. Prayer saves. Prayer propels.
TM: What are some of the practical things you do to show God’s love?
AA: I help people as much as I can, especially when I get the chance to be invited to talk to others. I appreciate such moments because I get to share my story, my mistakes, my pain and successes. In one way or the other, such occasions definitely will impact on someone. Besides that I am a Youth Facilitator at Church.
TM: Which one moment can pass for your happiest?
AA: It has to be two! That is when Elom, my wife, agreed to marry me. The day she agreed to marry me and the moment I got to know about the full scholarship for my Masters program.
TM: Is there any mystery you would want God to solve for you?
AA: Well, The Word says in Heaven, it will always be praises and worship. I would like to ask God if I will get the chance to spend some time with my wife in Heaven.
TM: What is your favorite Bible verse?
AA: That is 1 Thessalonians 5: 16 – 18.
Gaining admission to the University of Ghana to read Drama and Radio and Television for his first degree, he has become more humble with his successes. He loves watching tennis and movies and is a believer of the great commission that Christians should go into the world and share the Gospel; through words and deeds. For this reason, and on the ‘election euphoria’, he hopes Christians in politics would impact on leadership.
Blog Post 14: True Me – Elikem Asenath Commey: From Boardroom To Backyard… The Journey To Fulfilling Destiny
Date: November 1, 2012
Pages: 65-67
Category: True Me / Entrepreneurship
Elikem acknowledges the rewards of the rich experience she gathered from working in several marketing roles both here in Ghana and other countries across West Africa. Elikem grew up learning about diversity in various ways. Starting with a primary education in Owerri, Imo State, she followed the footsteps of women in the family to Aburi Girls Secondary School then on to study French at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and Universite National du Benin. She soon found that her career will take her back to these places and many others where local knowledge was an asset. Her work required her to have the minimum linguistic and cultural skills to effectively connect with consumers from diverse backgrounds and socioeconomic groups.
Elikem soon found that the most dynamic and connected consumers were the children she interacted with in her pet entrepreneurial project – babysitting. A big fan and lover of children, she explains why she found this role much more rewarding. The ability to soothe a child’s worries with just 5 minutes of undivided attention, reach out with a helping hand to a parent juggling many tasks and a career, provide a solution for a family needing support with a child or two is all bundled into the mission of Playpen 24/7.
Elikem quit her regular job at The Coca- Cola Company to focus on this dream entrepreneurial venture. The confidence to move from boardrooms to backyards, spending time holding sticky baby fingers can only be an act of grace and a leap of faith.
This native born Ga called Elikem smiles and explains that her name is a unique asset that people find unusual in a society where names are meant to quickly identify your background.
Elikem Asenath Obiorkor Commey (EAC) was engaged in a chat by Trulife Magazine (TM) and here are excerpts from the conversation.
TM: What has been your major challenge since you started working on your own, full time?
EAC: Ability to pre- finance our services. It was immediately critical that we have access to funds to allow us provide first class offers that appeal to parents through their wards. Once we gain the child’s confidence (believe me the children have to endorse us), word of mouth does the rest of the work and you can breathe easier.
TM: How have you been able to solve, or minimize this challenge and what keeps you motivated to keep on?
EAC: I ensure that I have a transparent system of billing that keeps the parents informed about rates upfront, once the fees are agreed I have a backup plan for cash flow to put the services in motion. Don’t be deceived though there is nothing like a rosy start. You have to be willing to have nothing in your pocket and sacrifice many small comforts and luxuries to make a lasting impact. It’s important to know that every day is an open door to walk through. There are days I felt I would faint but by the time I got on then off my knees from prayer, the next morning looked very bright and possible.
What keeps me motivated? It’s always simply refreshing when I meet a child’s need, especially the need for their own space. That is the concept behind the layout of my backyard where we have ample space for kids to run around.
TM: Does prayer play any role in your life and the path you’ve chosen?
EAC: Prayer has a lot to do with everything. Prayer is the one thing you don’t want to make excuses about. The common one is “I can’t make the time”. Your success, triumph, happiness and peace are all hinged on your ability to say a word of prayer in your heart or silently on your lips every moment of the day. Skip lunch sometimes and sit quietly in your car or at your desk in the office and pray – it just changes perspective from my little experience.
TM: What has been your greatest achievement?
EAC: Your question makes me reflect on why Apostle Paul was not hasty about what he had done but said he counted all things foolishness for the sake of the gospel. You know what? The only time you should measure a great accomplishment is when you know you’ve truly served your generation through Christ. Till then nothing qualifies yet.
TM: What practical things do you do to show God’s love?
EAC: (Amidst laughter) I love to offer lifts to people in my car. That is my favorite thing and it always fills me with joy especially because the ladies always look at you with surprise when you stop for them to sit. Take it from me; it’s the easiest way to find people to witness to about Christ- use it.
TM: Is there anything you would want to ask God, if you are given the opportunity?
EAC: I would ask him why He gave us the opportunity to have our own will. It still baffles me. We tend to have the knack for simply going the other way when the right way is in front of us!
TM: Would you say you are more humble?
EAC: I would say yes, growing up in the knowledge of God is making me more humble daily. I understand now that EVERYTHING including the ability to even love is a gift from God.
On the point of whether Christianity is boring, she became very emotional and emphasized that those persons who do not know their commission in Christ are the only ones who think that Christianity is boring. She challenges Christians to follow their calling and do as Christ commanded because time spent interceding for others in prayer, visiting and helping the poor and hungry, healing the sick and performing miracles will hardly qualify as dull if we all just practice it. Elikem worships at the West Legon branch of the International Central Gospel Church and serves in the protocol department. She is fully guided by her favorite scripture in 1st Corinthians 6v12 ALL THINGS ARE LAWFUL BUT NOT ALL THINGS ARE HELPFUL.
