LilWin
Ghanaian actor and filmmaker Kwadwo Nkansah, popularly known as LilWin, has broken down in tears while recounting the difficulties he faced on the set of his upcoming movie, A Journey to Africa (Nzulezu). According to the actor, the Nollywood stars he brought to Ghana for the project stopped returning to set after just three days of filming, because they did not want to keep travelling by boat to the location.
The emotional account, which appeared on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, has quickly become one of the most talked-about Ghana–Nigeria movie stories of the week.
What LilWin Said Happened on Set
The movie is being shot in Nzulezu, a famous community in Ghana’s Western Region where homes are built on stilts above the water. To reach the location, the cast and crew had to take a boat ride of about 40 minutes.
LilWin explained that after three days of shooting, the Nigerian actors refused to go back to the set or make the trip on the water again. In his words, “After three days of shooting the movie, all the stars said they would not return to the set or travel on the water again.”
The stars reportedly suggested that the production move to a different location. For LilWin, that was not an option, because the whole story is built around Nzulezu and its unique way of life.
A One-Week Plan Under Pressure
The team had planned to wrap up filming within a week. With the lead cast unwilling to continue, that timeline came under serious pressure.
LilWin said he went to the actors one after the other, speaking to each of them privately to calm their fears and convince them to finish the shoot at the original location.
“I Don’t Blame the Nigerian Stars”
Despite the stress, LilWin did not attack his guests. Instead, he said he understood why they were afraid of the water.
He pointed to a recent incident in which a colleague of the Nigerian actors reportedly drowned while filming a water scene for another movie. “I don’t blame the Nigerian stars because, not long ago, one of their colleagues drowned and died,” he said, adding that he understood their concerns.
It has not been publicly confirmed whether the shoot has now been completed in Nzulezu or how the standoff was finally resolved.
Quick Facts
- Movie: A Journey to Africa (Nzulezu)
- Lead and filmmaker: Kwadwo Nkansah (LilWin)
- Producer: Weezy Empire
- Location: Nzulezu stilt village, Jomoro Municipality, Western Region, Ghana
- Boat trip to set: About 40 minutes
- Nollywood cast: Kanayo O. Kanayo, Patience Ozokwor, Mike Ezuruonye, Charles Awurum, Zubby Michael and Destiny Etiko
- Planned shoot length: One week
The Star-Studded Nollywood Cast
The film brings together some of Nigeria’s best-known screen faces. Veterans Kanayo O. Kanayo, Patience Ozokwor, Mike Ezuruonye and Charles Awurum are on the cast list, alongside Zubby Michael and Destiny Etiko.
Several of the actors landed in Accra at the end of September, where LilWin personally received them at the airport. Their arrival created a big buzz on social media, with fans sharing videos of the stars touring Ghana and spending time with their host.
Why LilWin Chose Nigerian Actors
The casting itself has stirred debate in Ghana. LilWin has said he found Nigerian actors easier to work with because they respond quickly when contacted, while he claimed some Ghanaian actors take much longer to reply.
The conversation grew louder when veteran Ghanaian actor Kofi Adjorlolo explained why he is missing from the movie, and when Kanayo O. Kanayo told Ghanaian actors to stop demanding the same pay as Nigerian stars.
Not the First Hurdle for the Project
This is not the first time LilWin has opened up about the pressure behind the production. Earlier this month, he spoke about the stress of an unpaid balance owed to the Nollywood stars on the project.
On a brighter note, the production has received local backing. Jomoro MP Dorcas Affo-Toffey gave financial support to the project through the Municipal Chief Executive, Benedict Boadi, while Awulae Kwasi Amakyi III, Paramount Chief of the Nsein Traditional Area, paid a surprise visit to the set. LilWin was also honoured with the title of Nkosuohene by the people of Nzulezu during the shoot.
Premiere Plans
LilWin has said the movie will premiere in Accra, with the National Theatre under consideration as the venue. Screenings are then expected in cinemas across Ghana and abroad, with venues at KNUST in Kumasi also being considered. No release date has been announced yet.
Reactions Online
The video has got people talking on social media. At least one X user jokingly linked the actor’s latest troubles to his ongoing feuds, a sign of how closely fans are following every twist in LilWin’s busy month.
The story also comes at a tense time for the actor, who is currently facing a GH¢10 million defamation lawsuit filed by Van Vicker.
What Comes Next
For now, LilWin’s tears have put a human face on the challenges of making big cross-border films in Africa. Fans will be watching closely for updates on whether A Journey to Africa finished filming in Nzulezu as planned, and when the much-hyped Ghana–Nigeria collaboration will finally hit screens.
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