22/07/2024
David Kwame Dontoh (born 1964) and affectionately called Uncle David, "Ghanaman" and "Kofi Abranteɛ" (Kofi Gentleman), is a veteran Ghanaian actor and television personality who has starred in numerous local and international films, drama, theatre, and other stage productions. He has been very influential in the development of television and drama, especially during the golden age of theatre in Ghana in the 80s and 90s. He took up acting in 1980 after seeing a National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI) newspaper advert inviting potential actors to come forward for training in stage and film acting. His first NAFTI film was The Way To Shame, a short seven minute stage production which was directed by Alex Bannerman as part of his formal assessment in drama production. Alex who was a student of NAFTI at the time had chanced upon David and persuaded him to play the lead role as the intended person had not showed up during shooting. The film's assessment panel, especially Mike Hagan, recognised David's potential in theatre and drama and highlighted this to the young Alex Bannerman. Subsequently, David's acting potential became more noticed when he played the lead role in Gus: The Theatre Cat, a short stage adaptation of a poem by T. S. Eliot. The play was directed by George Andoh Wilson of Wilson Acting Academy fame.
