Godwin Kotey

Godwin Nikoi Kotey (born 1965 – died 2012) was an actor, producer, teacher, writer, and director from Ghana who helped the movie industry grow.

 Early life 
Godwin Kotey started his career in the Ghanaian TV industry. His first important role was in the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation's show called Anane - A Strange Coincidence. This role helped him begin his acting career, and he later appeared in more TV plays, becoming known as a talented actor.

 Education 
He went to Tema Senior High School and Ghanata Secondary School. After that, he studied at the University of Ghana for his degree and master's in theatre arts. He did his PhD at the University of Southern Illinois.

 Academic contributions 
Kotey made important contributions to education, especially at the University of Ghana's School of Performing Arts. In 1989, while he was a student there, he directed a play called Witness for the Prosecution. The play was very successful and was chosen as the School's Theatre Season Play of the Year. This showed his talent as a director. Later, he became a Senior Lecturer at the university, where he helped teach and guide young Ghanaian performers.

 Career 
Godwin taught Performing Arts at the University of Ghana. In 1997, he directed *Smash TV* and in 1999, he directed Taxi Driver. In 2008, he was the creative director for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations.

 Contributions to theater and film 
Kotey had a big impact on theater and film in Ghana. After doing well on TV, he joined Abibigromma, the theater group at the University of Ghana, to improve his skills. In movies, he acted in famous films like Police Officer, Sodom and Gomorrah, and I Sing of a Well. His first time directing a film was with Scent of Danger, which won him an award at the African Film Festival (FESPACO) in 2001, making him well-known as a talented filmmaker.

 Filmography 
List of movies.

 Police Officer
 I Sing of A Well
 Taxi Driver
 The Scent of Danger
 Etuo Etu Bare
 Sodom and Gomorrah
 Shoe Shine Boy

 Awards 

 He won an award for the movie The Scent of Danger at the African Film Festival in Burkina Faso (FESPACO) in 2001.
 He also won awards for the TV show Taxi Driver.

 Legacy and later life 
Kotey's impact was not just in movies and theater. He was in charge of the creative direction for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 African Cup of Nations in Ghana, showing his talent and creativity. People remember him for his work in the arts and as a teacher, helping many students in performing arts. He kept working in the arts until he passed away in 2012, leaving a lasting legacy. 

 Death 
He died from cancer called leukemia after receiving treatment in the United States.

 References 

Category:1965 births
Category:2012 deaths
Category:21st-century Ghanaian actors
Category:Ghanaian movie directors
Category:Ghanaian movie producers
Category:Ghanaian movie actors
Category:Ghanaian actors
Category:Ghanaian educators
Category:Ghanaian writers