Ghanaian movie producer, Adanma Luke, has finally broken her silence on the tragic boat mishap that occurred during the filming of a new movie in Delta State. The accident claimed the life of renowned actor Junior Pope, along with four others.
In a video shared on her Instagram page, Mrs. Luke attributed Junior Pope’s death to his failure to wear a life jacket while on the boat ride. She revealed that on the day of the shoot, the director and the Director of Photography (D.O.P) were wearing life jackets, but Junior Pope refused to wear one, claiming it was dirty.
According to Adanma Luke, the production manager sent a life jacket to Junior Pope, but he declined to use it. She emphasized that those who wore life jackets were able to survive the boat accident.
The tragic incident occurred when the boat capsized in Anam River in Anambra State on April 10, leading to the deaths of Junior Pope and the other actors. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the mishap.
In response to Junior Pope’s untimely death, the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) took decisive actions to prevent similar tragedies in the future. National President Emeka Rollas announced the suspension of all film shoots involving riverine areas and boat riding indefinitely. Additionally, filming activities nationwide were halted on April 11 as a mark of respect for the lives lost.
The production of the film “Another Side of Life” has been indefinitely suspended, and actors are prohibited from working with Adamma Luke as a producer until further notice. These measures are part of the guild’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of its members in the industry.
