Film producer Shirley Frimpong-Manso is promising audiences plenty of laughter with Agency for the Dead, describing the ghost-themed production as potentially the funniest film her team has made.
Speaking on Tuesday after the film’s media premiere, she said the idea was to offer a light-hearted twist on ghost stories, drawing on Ghanaian myths and childhood memories.
“We wanted to make something light and funny. I love ghost stories,” she said.
While ghost stories often bring fear and suspense to mind, Frimpong-Manso said she enjoys exploring other possibilities, an approach she also linked to her earlier film, A Sting in the Tale.
“I always like to bring a twist to what ghosts can be,” she explained.
For Agency for the Dead, that twist comes with a strong emphasis on comedy. Despite having worked on several films, she believes this production stands out for its humour.
“I can say that perhaps Agency for the Dead is probably the purest comedy we have done,” she said.
“For me to hit my chest and say this is probably the funniest film we’ve done, then you know what I mean.”
Beyond the laughs, Frimpong-Manso said audiences would encounter irony and discover the significance of the film’s title as the story unfolds.
“There’s a lot to take away, but I think most importantly, Agency for the Dead is entertaining,” she said.
The film also revisits familiar Ghanaian beliefs about ghosts, offering viewers a sense of nostalgia.
“There’s also a lot here that would remind you of our childhood, the Ghanaian myth about ghosts, and we speak about some of that in the film,” she said.
“So it will remind you of Ghana in the old days and some of our myths, and then, of course, perhaps you catch a glimpse of what happens on the other side.”
Although the production was enjoyable, she cautioned that making audiences laugh requires considerable effort.
“People think that comedy is too easy, but to let people laugh, it’s a big thing,” she said.
Frimpong-Manso praised the cast’s commitment, mentioning Joselyn Dumas, Anita Erskine, George Quaye, Mawuli Gavor, David Dontoh and Omari Dwamena.
She said the team embraced the screenplay’s humour from the outset.
“Everybody also agreed immediately that the script was good fun,” she added.