JUDAS STILL MISSES SANTO (GRAPHIC SHOWBIX, BACK PAGE)

By Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu

It’s almost seven years now since comedian and actor Santo died but his best friend and fellow actor, Abusuapanyin Judas, is yet to get over his death.
Judas, whose real name is Korankye Ampabeng, misses the late actor so much that it has affected his zeal to act again. Though he has featured in some movies since Santo’s death, they are so few that he could count them on his fingers.
A lot of people fell in love with Santo and Judas who brought them laughter through radio plays, live stage appearances and movies in the late 1990s. They were close friends and partners in performances for over 14 years.
In a chat with Judas when Graphic Showbiz chanced upon him at the Essipon Staduim last weekend, he said “ I miss my friend and brother Santo very much. We had planned so many things together. I am sad he is gone forever. I have no one to share ideas with. I know it’s been almost seven years since he’s been gone but I must admit I am yet to get over his death.
“We had a dream to produce our own movies. I write good scripts and currently have hundreds of them ready to be produced but my biggest challenge is funding. Santo used to be in charge and with him gone, so much has changed. I have been cheated for too long and I believe what I need now is a manager who will strike good deals for me.”
Describing his late friend as irreplaceable, he said “ he was one of a kind. We shared a special bond which I don’t think I will ever find with anyone. It was natural. We gelled so well that he wouldn’t accept to be part of a production I wasn’t part of. I miss the calls I used to get from Santo to discuss a script before we went on location,” he said.
Reminiscing on their friendship, Judas said “ I met Santo (real name John Evans Bosompim) in 1988 and he got me to join the African Brothers Band. We, however, left the band in 1994 to form Omintimminim Concert Party. The group, led by Santo, performed at the Key Soap Concert Party series”, he said.
They began to get roles in several video productions after they had established their popularity in concert party theatre circles. Some of the productions they appeared in are Double Sense, 419 I and II, Banker to Banker, Marijata and Asem. They also featured on TV drama series Efiewura.
Judas, who recently returned from Italy after shooting a new movie, Judas in Italy said “I did go off acting but I haven’t given it up. I have so much in me that I just can’t let it go. I have a lot to communicate to society through acting”, he said.
He said Judas In Italy, which will be released soon in Ghana has a lot of lessons for movie lovers. “ A lot of social and moral issues have been well captured in the movie”, he said.