Gossips

How John Dumelo was almost stabbed on set due to negligence – Leila Djansi reveals

In a post on her Facebook wall on March 2, 2025, the experienced filmmaker launched a scathing critique of the Ghanaian film industry, describing it as a “mirthless joke.”

Djansi highlighted the unprofessionalism she witnessed among crew members in the industry including how negligence almost led to the stabbing of Dumelo.

“Should I talk about the production designer who passed a real knife to an actor for a stabbing scene? My God. If it wasn’t for divine intervention, Vanessa Williams would have stabbed John Dumelo with a real knife that day. How is this not a joke?” she posted.

Although the name of the project was not mentioned, John Dumelo starred alongside Hollywood star Vanessa Williams in the 2018 TV series “40 & single” which aired on StarTimes Adepa TV.

Dumelo played the character Charles who was the fiancé to Vanessa Williams’ character; Bertha Brown.

Djansi also recounted several other shocking experiences she encountered while working in Ghana.

“Try an AD telling you he’s going to sleep for a few minutes in the middle of a shoot. Try a crew demanding you stop filming, bring a TV so they can watch football, and then return to set after the match.

“Look for what Cary Fukunaga said about working in Ghana. Try wardrobe telling an actor they don’t have an outfit for them because their role is not big enough,” she added

She compared these incidents with her experiences in other countries, where she witnessed a high level of professionalism and attention to detail.

“Compare that to my production in the Dominican Republic, where the props guy showed me eight different watches, properly arranged, for me to choose JUST ONE, for the scene. Eight options. I cried tears of joy,” Djansi wrote.

The filmmaker urged industry players to ‘stop defending mediocrity’ and instead embrace constructive criticism so they can grow.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. In addition to his media ventures, Solomon serves as a Brand Ambassador for Alabuga, a prominent Russian industrial company, representing their interests and expansion across Africa. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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