Bernard Nyarko was groomed to fill Kwame Owusu Ansah's void - Oboy Siki

Veteran Kumawood actor, Oboy Siki has revealed that Bishop Bernard Nyarko was groomed to fill the gap of actor Kwame Owusu Ansah whose sudden death occurred on May 2, 2008, through a car accident.

Speaking to Kofi Adoma Nwanwani on Kofi TV in an interview, and monitored by GhanaWeb, Oboy Siki narrated that, Bishop's thick tall stature was a perfect advantage for him, because, he was the exact physical copy of the late Kwame Owusu Ansah.

Choosing Nigerian actor Peter Edochie as his mentor in the film industry, Oboy Siki added that, Bishop was asked to rather follow the steps of his countryman, Kwame Owusu Ansah, who was loved by many for his excellent acting skills.

"It was God who brought him, he entered the movie industry with humility. He came with a heart of preparedness to succeed...He took Peter Edochie as his mentor and was toeing his line. He was encouraged to, we had a thick tall actor who was really good and he is no more, Kwame Owusu Ansah. Now that he is no more, your form was a unique advantage for you over the others," he said in the Twi dialect.

Oboy Siki who touted his contribution towards the nurturing of the late Bishop reiterated how he constantly directed his speech and application of good proverbs in his speeches, due to roles assigned to him by producers.

"He spoke English when acting. I told him, you will go far with that approach...Producers started casting him as a chief, but his Twi was not fluent. The English was too much, he couldn't use proverbs...He used to come to me to teach him how to use proverbs. He wrote some, for it to be interpreted and I also wrote some for him...As time went on, he perfected the role as chief," he bragged in the Twi dialect.

The conversation got more interesting when he revealed that the late Bishop was also called Kwame (Saturday born), just like the mentor he was asked to follow, Kwame Owusu Ansah.

Oboy Siki shared that, Bishop, after 12 years of being in the movie industry, also died on the same day and date as the late Kwame Owusu Ansah; 2nd May, 2020.

What sets the two instances slightly apart is the fact that Kwame Owusu Ansah died from a car accident on the Accra-Tema Motorway whiles Bishop died after a short illness at the Ridge Hospital, in Accra.

Bishop, before his death was nominated for 2015, 2016 Best Indigenous Actor, City People Entertainment Awards, though he didn't win.

In 2017, he received a citation at NUGS KNUST Excellence and Exclusive Awards for his immense contribution and support towards the growth of KNUST’s National Union of Ghana Students.

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