Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde has pulled a surprise by speaking Twi and Ga-Adangme in Leila Djansi’s film, ‘Ties That Bind’. The film is scheduled for a grand red carpet premiere on December 30, at the National Theatre in Accra, with more surprises. There will also be a premiere on the same day in Kumasi.

Many did not believe Omotola could speak Twi and Ga, but that was just the tip of the iceberg as regards the use of local dialects in the new film which was screened for Ghanaian media last Friday.

Hollywood trained Ghanaian director, Leila Djansi gave the lead cast, comprising Ama K Abebrese, Omotola, Ebbe Bassey and Kimberly Elise, a daunting task of getting themselves acquainted with Twi, Ga or Krobo. Even though they struggled with their lines in local dialects, the world-class actresses made the movie exciting.

Leila said the dialects were necessary as they added authenticity, flavor and texture to the movie. She also said she wanted to shoot the movie in Ga, adding however that she had to consider the diverse movie market.

“If I had a choice I would have shot the entire movie in Ga but then again you are trying to sell the movie to a diverse market…language at time limits the market you know. The texture was interjecting,” she stated.

“We had a good dialect coach. Amanda Jissih was our dialect coach and she did like recordings and that was how they managed to speak. I don’t speak, but I was listening but I trust Mandy (Amanda). To be honest with you, I don’t speak Ga and I don’t know whether it is wrong or not, unless somebody tells me that this person didn’t say that word right.

But somebody made a comment about Ebbe’s delivery. They said she did not pronounce some words better but I don’t know any better.” Unlike ‘Sinking Sands’ which campaigned against domestic violence, ‘Ties That Bind’ focuses on urging women to be courageous.

The technical productivity of the film was just impeccable. The cast’s screen presence and delivery was just awesome. But Ebbe Bassey was the one who gets thumbs up for her delivery. ‘Ties That Bind’ is an interesting story about Adobea, Buki and Theresa- played by Omotola Jalade, Ama K and Kimberly Elise- three women from three different backgrounds bound together by a similar pain; the loss of a child.

In a destined meeting in a small village in Kroboland, the women journey together to redemption, love, life and forgiveness as they renovate a dilapidated clinic for the villagers. The film stars a dynamic cast of Kimberly Elise, Randall Batinkoff, Ama K Abebrese, Omotola Ekeinde, David Dontoh, John Dumelo, Ebbe Bassey and more.