Yvonne Nelson, the renowned Ghanaian actress and movie producer, has recently released her highly anticipated memoir, “I Am Not Yvonne Nelson.”

In this captivating book, Nelson fearlessly delves into her personal and professional experiences, sharing intimate details and making sensational claims that have captured the attention of readers and fans alike.

From her encounters with influential individuals to her reflections on societal issues, the actress sheds light on various aspects of her life, challenging preconceived notions and revealing shocking revelations.

In this article, we will explore 15 of the most sensational claims made by Yvonne Nelson in her book, offering a glimpse into the compelling narrative she weaves and the impact it has on her audience. Prepare to be captivated by the intriguing insights unveiled in Yvonne's remarkable memoir.

I Am Not Yvonne Nelson

In the gripping and explosive memoir, “I Am Not Yvonne Nelson,” readers are taken on a captivating journey of self-discovery alongside the young protagonist.

Unveiling a shocking truth, she realizes that her entire life has been built on a false identity. This mesmerizing story unfolds with dramatic flair and unexpected turns, resembling a screenplay that keeps readers enthralled.

Yet, behind the glitz and glamour, the actress-turned-author grapples with a reality that often brings tears to her eyes.

Breaking away from the conventions of a typical autobiography, the author fearlessly bares her soul to the readers. This intimate narrative not only offers a glimpse into her personal life but also uncovers the hidden aspects of the complex and glamorous world of celebrities.

The book launch was a star-studded affair, with esteemed figures from the entertainment industry, business sector, and political arena in attendance. Some notable guests at the event include: John Dumelo, Adjetey Anang, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Becca, Manasseh Azure Awuni, Sammy Forson, and GhanaWeb Entertainment Editor Abrantepa Benefo Buabeng, further highlighting the significance of the memoir.

Here are 15 shocking revelations make in the memoir;

Pregnancy and the Non-responsible Rapper

One of the revelations Yvonne Nelson shares is her choice to terminate a pregnancy due to the man responsible for it refusing to take responsibility. His justification was that he already had another girlfriend.

Yvonne Nelson identifies the man in question as a rapper from Tema, and this incident occurred in 2010. According to her account, the rapper was Sarkodie, a renowned Ghanaian musician who has since become an icon and received multiple awards.

“I went for a pregnancy test with Karen to confirm the obvious conclusion for a sexually active young woman who misses her monthly cycle. When the test results were ready, I lacked the strength to open them. Karen did the honors and revealed the verdict.

“Charlie, it's there!” she exclaimed.

“On any other day, I would have burst into laughter, triggering a series of lighthearted conversations and jokes. But this was no laughing matter. It was a grim piece of information that had the power to turn my world upside down. I wasn't solely responsible for the situation, so I contacted the man whose potent seed had taken root within me. His name is Michael Owusu Addo, a well-known Ghanaian musician better known as Sarkodie.

“At the time, Sarkodie was an up-and-coming musician with the potential to become one of Ghana's and beyond's biggest artists. However, his future seemed uncertain, and he still navigated through life's uncertainties. Success was not guaranteed. He still lived with his mother and wasn't prepared to shoulder a burden while being dependent on her.

“I wouldn't classify what had developed between us as a serious relationship. I was drawn to people in the music industry, and music had always been my escape from life's hardships. So, I admired his talent. We started talking and grew closer. Much closer,” excerpts from the book state.

The Heart-wrenching Choice and Reflections on Regret

In the poignant chapter 8 of her recently launched memoir, Yvonne Nelson shares her courageous yet painful journey of attempting to terminate her pregnancy. Desperate to escape the prospect of bringing a fatherless child into the world, she sought a solution from a colleague, but her efforts proved futile as a subsequent test confirmed she was still pregnant.

For Yvonne, the decision to abort the baby stemmed from her own fatherless upbringing and the fear of subjecting another innocent life to the same rejection she had experienced. In her own words, she reflects, “The first thing that hit me when he said no to keeping the pregnancy was my own life… I had often been reminded of how I had been borne by mistake.”

Questioning her own origins and uncertain about her paternal connection, Yvonne grappled with the idea of introducing another human being to a world where their own father might reject them, mirroring the pain she had endured. In her book, she candidly expresses, “If there was a way to spare someone else the trauma I was contending with, why would I reject that option, especially when I was not?”

Eventually, Yvonne recounts the bittersweet success of terminating the pregnancy but admits that it stands as one of the most regrettable mistakes in her life. Looking back, she yearns for the ability to turn back the hands of time, vowing, “If the clock of life could be rewound to my younger self, I would keep it.”

The pain, the blood, first and second attempts

Another intriguing twist in Yvonne Nelson's story concerning her relationship with Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie emerged when he left her alone at a clinic during their attempt to abort a baby.

After describing how the rapper got her pregnant and refused to take responsibility, Yvonne also revealed how he drove her to a health facility where she experienced heavy bleeding while he was absent.

In a chapter titled “Abortion” in her book, “I Am Not Yvonne Nelson,” the actress shared her account of how Sarkodie accompanied her to the Mamprobi polyclinic for the abortion, but showed no concern for her well-being thereafter.

“Keeping the pregnancy was not an option. Self-medication was also not an option. Sarkodie and I agreed that this time we had to go to a hospital or health facility. I had a friend who recommended a facility in Mamprobi, and on the appointed day, Sarkodie drove me there with his manager and left.

“I hoped and prayed that this second attempt would be successful. The pain, once again, was intense, and I bled heavily. I felt worse because Sarkodie abandoned me to my fate. He did not call or check up on me to find out how the procedure went,” excerpts from the chapter read.

Yvonne narrated the unimaginable pain and horrifying experiences during the two occasions when she attempted to abort Sarkodie's child.

“If I had tried it at home, my mother would have found out, and there would have been serious consequences. So, one weekend, I visited my friend and took the pills. I swallowed one and inserted the other into my vagina. The following days were some of the most excruciatingly painful moments of my life. Only after giving birth was I able to find a comparison for the pain I endured.

“The pain came with severe bleeding that lasted so long it left me weak. I could see my life slipping away. When I sat on the toilet, clots of blood fell into the bowl like constipated poop. When the bleeding and pain finally stopped, I took another pregnancy test to determine the effectiveness of the self-administered procedure. The pregnancy was still there, intact. Later, at the hospital, I was given an injection to numb the pain, but I could still feel it.

“I could feel the sensation of something being screwed inside me. I even thought my womb was being removed. Whatever it was, I hoped for a successful outcome this time around,” she narrated.

The true reason for the abortion

Among the revelations in her book, “I Am Not Yvonne Nelson,” is her choice to terminate a pregnancy due to the refusal of the man involved to take responsibility, citing his relationship with another girlfriend.

According to Yvonne Nelson, the man in question was a rapper based in Tema, and this incident occurred in 2010. She identified the rapper as Sarkodie, a renowned Ghanaian musician who has achieved iconic status and won multiple awards.

“I went for a pregnancy test to confirm the obvious outcome for a sexually active young woman who misses her monthly period. I was accompanied by Karen. When the test result was ready, I lacked the strength to open it. She did and declared the verdict.

“Charlie, it dey there!” she exclaimed.

“On any ordinary day, I would have burst into laughter, sparking lively conversations and jokes. However, this was no laughing matter. It was a grim revelation capable of turning my world upside down. I was not solely responsible for the situation, so I contacted the man whose potent seed had impregnated me. His name is Michael Owusu Addo, a renowned Ghanaian musician better known as Sarkodie.”

“Sarkodie was a promising musician with the potential to become one of the biggest artists in Ghana and beyond. However, at that time, his future seemed uncertain, and the path ahead appeared hazy and unpredictable. Success was not guaranteed. He was still living with his mother and was not ready to shoulder the burden while being dependent on her.

“I wouldn't classify what had developed between us as a serious relationship. I was drawn to people in the music industry. Music had long been my escape from the hardships life threw at me. So, I admired his talent. We started talking and grew closer,” excerpts from the book reveal.

My father and the more reason to abort

In chapter 8 of the book, the actress shares her attempt to terminate her pregnancy using a concoction provided by a colleague. However, to her disappointment, the substance failed to work as a subsequent test confirmed she was still pregnant.

Yvonne Nelson made the difficult decision to pursue an abortion due to her fatherless background and the apprehension of bringing a child into the world whose father had refused to take responsibility.

“When he rejected the idea of keeping the pregnancy, it struck me on a personal level. Growing up, I had experienced the absence of a father in my life. I often questioned whether the man whose name I carried was truly my father. How could I bring another human being into this world to endure the same rejection and pain I faced when Mr. Nelson denied me? If there was a way to spare someone else the trauma I endured, why would I reject that option, especially when I was not ready?” Yvonne Nelson revealed in her book.

She further recounted the eventual success in terminating the pregnancy but expressed deep remorse, calling it “one of the most regrettable mistakes in my life. If I could turn back the clock and revisit my younger self, I would choose to keep it.”

Tracy was studying abroad

One of the book's significant revelations centers around her decision to terminate a pregnancy involving rapper Sarkodie after he refused to take responsibility back in 2010.

According to Yvonne, when she initially informed Sarkodie about the pregnancy, his immediate reaction was evident panic and a hesitant voice as he prioritized his budding career over the unborn child. However, she later discovered that Sarkodie had a girlfriend who was studying abroad.

“I called him to meet and discuss the situation. Since he still lived with his mother, it wasn't appropriate to break the news at his place. We met outside in my Toyota Rav4 (he drove a Toyota Matrix at the time, if my memory serves me right). I could sense his intense emotions as I broke the news. I could hear his heart pounding, and when he finally spoke, his voice trembled. He made it clear that he didn't want the pregnancy. He believed it would harm his career. The only option was to get rid of it. Whether his career and the uncertainties of life were the true reasons behind his reluctance to let me keep the pregnancy, I cannot say. Later on, I discovered he had a girlfriend studying at a university outside the country,” she wrote.

In Chapter 8 of her book, Yvonne Nelson describes the situation as perilously complicated and explains that she felt compelled to make the difficult choice of terminating the pregnancy given the circumstances.

“He became involved with me while his girlfriend was away, and things became dangerously complicated. Whatever the reasons, his stance was clear. I was left to evaluate my own options. The first thought that struck me when he rejected the idea of keeping the pregnancy was my own life. I grew up without a father. I was constantly reminded that I was born by mistake. I still wondered if the man whose name I carried was truly my father. How could I bring another human being into this world to face the same rejection I experienced when Mr. Nelson rejected me? If there was a way to spare someone else the trauma I endured, why would I reject that option, especially when I was not mentally and emotionally prepared to be a mother?” she expressed.

Sarkodie, who is now one of Ghana and Africa's most acclaimed rappers, had always maintained privacy regarding his relationships and love life until his marriage in 2018. He wedded his long-time girlfriend, Tracey Owusu Addo, who had spent most of her life studying outside Ghana.

NPP offer to contest Ayawso West Wuogon seat

Ahead of the book launch, investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni shared a tantalizing glimpse into the revelations contained in ‘I Am Not Yvonne Nelson'. He disclosed that a close associate of President Akufo-Addo wanted Yvonne Nelson to replace Lydia Alhassan as the NPP candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency. Manasseh described the book as “EXPLOSIVELY riveting.”

Lydia Alhassan, who won a by-election in 2019 and the subsequent general election, currently holds the parliamentary seat for Ayawaso West Wuogon.

Yvonne reveals, among other things, that she was approached by a person close to the president to become the parliamentary candidate of the New Patriotic Party for the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency in the 2020 general elections.

Despite some critics attempting to associate her with the president and the NPP, the actress, in her book, explicitly expresses her disappointment in Akufo-Addo's governance and strongly emphasizes that she “certainly does not wish to associate with a politician who is portrayed as one thing but becomes the complete opposite after being elected into office.”

Politics and Akufo-Addo's 2016 election

Yvonne Nelson's activism played a significant role in President Akufo-Addo's successful election in 2016, according to political critics.

As a vocal critic of the National Democratic Congress government, Nelson's involvement in organizing the ‘Dumsor Vigil' in 2015 showcased her dissatisfaction with the energy crisis and put pressure on the government.

However, since the NPP's victory in 2016 and their subsequent re-election in 2020, Nelson has become critical of President Akufo-Addo's administration. She has openly called him out for incompetence and failing to meet expectations.

Akufo-Addo turned out to be a disappointment

Yvonne Nelson asserts that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been a disappointment compared to the image he portrayed while in opposition.

According to Yvonne, Akufo-Addo was hailed as a leader who would combat corruption in the public sector and political arena. However, she believes that he has failed to live up to those expectations. In her book titled “I Am Not Yvonne Nelson,” she states, “He was presented as incorruptible, and Ghanaians believed he would be the solution to rampant corruption at the highest levels. Unfortunately, he has become a colossal disappointment, with his government's excessive borrowing, corruption, and reckless spending leading to economic turmoil.”

Many political critics view Yvonne Nelson's activism as pivotal to President Akufo-Addo's eventual victory in the 2016 election, after he had previously failed in two consecutive attempts.

The Dumsor Vigil

The actress and movie producer, in addition to expressing criticism towards the National Democratic Congress government led by John Dramani Mahama, played a leading role in organizing the renowned ‘Dumsor Vigil' on May 16, 2015.

The vigil was a public protest primarily led by individuals from the entertainment and arts industry, aiming to exert pressure on the government to resolve the energy crisis that gripped the nation at that time.

However, since the New Patriotic Party (NPP) came to power in 2016 and was re-elected in 2020, Yvonne Nelson, whose involvement was considered influential in the NDC's defeat, has become critical of President Akufo-Addo's administration.

Akufo-Addo's personal support for ‘Dumso Vigil'

According to Nelson, President Akufo-Addo personally reached out to her to offer his support and encouragement. During their brief conversation, he praised her efforts and recognized her as a genuine daughter of Ghana.

Akufo-Addo assured her that the entire nation was standing behind her and urged her to persevere, emphasizing the significance of her cause.

“It was expected that a problem of such magnitude would provide a political advantage to opposition parties. While the government may not have appreciated our protest, the opposition parties fully supported us, even though we made it clear that our agenda was nonpartisan.

“In the days leading up to the protest, I received a call from someone who informed me that I should wait for a call from Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). In that brief conversation, he expressed his support for my cause and encouraged me. He referred to me as a true daughter of the land and recognized the importance of my actions. He urged me to continue pushing forward and not be discouraged, as the whole of Ghana was behind me.”

Marriage proposal and a surprise condition

In a chapter titled “A Man's World,” which primarily focuses on masculinity and the marginalization of women, the actress reveals an encounter with Joel Duncan-Williams, the son of Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, who approached her with a marriage proposal in a dramatic manner that quickly came to an end.

“In 2009, while I was on set shooting The Prince's, I had an unexpected visitor. He hadn't come to see me but someone else. However, by the end of his visit, it became apparent that I mattered more to him than the person he had initially intended to see. This visitor, if I can even call him that considering the entourage of security guards he had with him, derived his influence from his prominent surname. His name is Joel Duncan-Williams, the son of the founder and leader of Action Faith Chapel International, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams. Up until that day, I had no knowledge of him, but his imposing presence couldn't be ignored when he showed up. Before leaving the movie set, he confessed that he had fallen in love with me,” she wrote.

Although uncertain about his proposal, the archbishop's son went to great lengths to prove the seriousness of his affection by bringing her lunch on set, accompanied by a heavy security escort in a mini-convoy.

“While I was still undecided on how to respond, he had already made extensive plans for our marriage. However, something abruptly ended our friendship before it had the slightest chance of progressing. One evening, he paid me a visit with the usual entourage fit for a prince, which I had only witnessed in movies involving non-state officials. The blaring sirens of his motorcade sufficiently announced to the entire neighborhood that an important person had arrived at my home. Upon entering, he made his intentions clear. He insisted that before our marriage could proceed, I had to go to his father to receive a prayer that would cast out any demons or evil spirits present within me or my family,” she narrated.

Expressing her displeasure with the condition set by the archbishop's son for their potential marriage, Yvonne Nelson, who described her household as a spiritually inclined one, explained that his sense of entitlement put an end to her interest in any such relationship.

In her thoughts, she questioned whether he had considered the need for her mother to also undergo a prayer session to rid him of potential negative spirits. Being the son of Archbishop Duncan-Williams did not automatically mean he was filled with the Holy Spirit and protected by angels. Moreover, being an actress did not imply that she carried malevolent spirits. In fact, their neighborhood could attest that the Manovia household used to be one of the most religious homes.

“My mother's spirituality intensified after a motor accident she was involved in, and we rarely skipped our morning devotion in our house. During my teenage years, I would sometimes interrupt our prayer sessions with revelations from God. When I began my acting career, I made it a habit to pray before starting any movie role I was given.

“I don't parade my religion, but I firmly believe in God and the power of prayer. I have witnessed His intervention in my life on numerous occasions, and I have no doubt that He comes through for me when I call upon Him. I don't just believe in influential pastors or men of God, some of whom are merely entrepreneurs. Therefore, I found it amusing that someone who desired to marry me, without obtaining my consent, believed that I needed spiritual purification before proceeding. He failed to see the importance of mutual cleansing,” she expressed.

Culture shock and financial opportunities in Nigeria

Yvonne Nelson opens up about the surprising financial opportunities she encountered during her time in Nigeria, which exceeded her acting ventures in her home country of Ghana.

She shares an intriguing revelation about the lucrative nature of attending Nigerian birthday parties at the peak of her career.

She writes about how these appearances often yielded greater financial returns than her acting projects in Ghana.

“There were people who held parties and were willing to pay you to attend just to elevate their status or showcase their class,” she candidly discloses.

The presence of celebrities at these events served as a social indicator of the host's standing.

In fact, she admits that attending someone's birthday or other celebratory events sometimes earned her more money than acting in a Ghanaian movie.

This revelation highlights the unique cultural dynamics and financial opportunities that accompanied her work in Nigeria.

However, Yvonne's experiences in Nigeria presented her with a cultural shock. Balancing her movie shoots with late-night partying proved to be challenging.

She had to strike a delicate balance between her professional commitments and her social life.

“The pressure from my circle of friends made life difficult, as some of them wanted to hang out with me when I was too tired to party,” Yvonne reveals.

Working late into the night and then having friends wanting to socialize in nightclubs tested her endurance.

While her friends would still be sleeping the next morning, she had to freshen up and start shooting, adding an extra layer of challenge to her already demanding schedule.

Yvonne Nelson's revelations provide a fascinating glimpse into the contrasting financial opportunities and cultural experiences she encountered during her time in Nigeria, shedding light on the multifaceted nature of her career as an actress.

Invitation to meet the President

Nelson received calls from the office of then President John Mahama, expressing his desire to meet her. However, she declined the invitation, insisting that her fellow protest organizers be present during the meeting. Despite pressure from the presidency for a one-on-one meeting, Nelson stood firm, maintaining that a meeting without her colleagues would not take place.

“I also received calls from President John Dramani Mahama's office. The callers informed me that the president wanted to meet with me, but I made it clear that I would only agree to a meeting if my fellow protest organizers were included. The officials at the presidency insisted that the president wanted to meet with me alone. I stood my ground, stating that if the president was not willing to meet with me and my colleagues, then the meeting would not happen,” she stated in the book.

Reflecting on the political landscape, Nelson acknowledged that the magnitude of the problem naturally provided political advantages to opposition parties. However, she emphasized that her protest was intended to be nonpartisan, even though the opposition parties showed solidarity with her cause.

The #dumosormuststop protest garnered significant attention and brought the issue of power outages in Ghana to the forefront.

Yvonne Nelson's activism and determination in addressing the problem captivated the nation and sparked widespread public discourse.

The explosive email from baby daddy's ex-wife

Despite her history with men, Yvonne Nelson fell deeply in love with Jamie Roberts, the man with whom she has a child, and believed he would be her husband. She admitted in her book, “If I hadn't loved him so deeply, our relationship would have continued even after the email.”

The pivotal moment that changed their relationship occurred when Jamie's Nigerian ex-wife sent an “explosive” email. Yvonne Nelson revealed in her memoir, ‘I Am Not Yvonne Nelson,' that she perceived the ex-wife's intention as an attempt to destroy Jamie and keep them apart.

While Yvonne did not disclose the specific contents of the email, she recounted that it contained sordid details about Jamie that could shatter any woman's love for him.

“The email was crafted to achieve a specific effect, and it succeeded,” Yvonne said. “It was detailed and explosively explicit. She meticulously revealed all the dirty secrets about her ex-husband, details that would devastate any woman, no matter how deep her love for him. My love for Jamie was profound, which is why the email tore us apart.”

The email shattered Yvonne's trust in Jamie, leading to her decision to leave the relationship despite being pregnant with his child. She described it as a challenging time for both of them.

However, Yvonne commended Jamie for his dedication and care toward their daughter, Ryn, something she never experienced from her own father.

“Jamie is actively involved in our daughter's life. He is one of the most caring fathers I know. Having grown up without a father, I would never prevent my daughter from experiencing a father's love,” Yvonne stated.

Regarding love and marriage, Yvonne's perspective underwent a significant transformation after Jamie's encounter. She no longer believes in the traditional institution of marriage but rather values partnership and choosing to be with someone without the need for a contractual agreement.

“As a woman, I strive to be independent and work hard. Marriage doesn't solve the insecurity of what happens when a man leaves; that doesn't apply to me anymore. If you're in love with someone, why sign a contract? Signing a contract acknowledges that the relationship won't work. A contract cannot save love. You can sign a contract to fulfill responsibilities towards children and other commitments, but you cannot sign a contract to love someone,” Yvonne expressed.

Yvonne and Jamie welcomed their daughter, Ryn, in 2017. In 2019, Yvonne confirmed their breakup with the British photographer, who had two children from previous marriages.

In the book, she reflected that she would have been Jamie's third African wife if things hadn't ended abruptly and painfully. She described Jamie as “a black man in a white man's body” due to his love for African food, music, and, of course, African women.