Kobi Rana, born Cornelius Phanthomas, is a Ghanaian entertainer who has made a name for himself across multiple lanes of the industry, as a film director, screenwriter, actor, musician, choreographer, and producer. He came into the spotlight in the early 2010s as one of the country’s youngest and most versatile filmmakers, behind hit movies like Kiss Me If You Can, Hotel Babylon, and Sala. Alongside his film work, he has kept a steady music career, releasing songs both as a solo artist and as a former member of the Afro-pop trio Rana.
Profile Summary
| Full name | Cornelius Phanthomas (professionally known as Kobi Rana) |
| Date of birth | 28 January 1986 |
| Place of birth | Kumasi, Ghana |
| Nationality | Ghanaian |
| Region of origin | Ashanti Region (Kumasi) |
| Partner | N/A |
| Children | N/A |
| Occupations | Film director, screenwriter, actor, music artist, choreographer, producer |
| Net worth | $300,000 – $600,000 USD |
Early Life and Education
Kobi Rana was born on 28 January 1986 in Kumasi, in Ghana’s Ashanti Region. He attended Greenhill International School in Accra for his basic education, then went on to St. Augustine’s College in Cape Coast for senior high school, where he began to stand out in drama and creative writing.
He later studied English and Theatre Arts at the University of Ghana, graduating with a bachelor’s degree that helped shape his career in film and the arts.
Career
Rana first broke into the industry as an actor, appearing in early projects like Hotel St. James and Fire for Fire. It wasn’t long before he stepped behind the camera, writing and directing his own stories. His 2010 film Kiss Me If You Can became his breakout project, earning multiple Ghana Movie Awards nominations and marking him as one of the youngest directors in the country to gain that level of attention.
Since then, he has built an impressive filmography that includes titles such as Hotel Babylon, Sala, 18, Chaskele, Akwaaba, and Savannah. His work often features top Ghanaian stars and has earned him repeated nominations for Best Director and Best Picture at the Ghana Movie Awards.
Over the years, he has accumulated dozens of credits as a director, writer, producer, and actor, showing his deep involvement in every stage of filmmaking.
Parallel to his film work, Rana has maintained an active music career. He first rose to fame as part of the Afro-pop trio Rana before launching a successful solo path.
He has released the album Bulletproof and a steady stream of singles across the 2020s, with his music available on major streaming platforms. This dual presence in film and music has made him one of Ghana’s most versatile entertainers.
Net Worth
Kobi Rana’s net worth is estimated between the range of $300,000 and $600,000. This range reflects his long-running career in both film and music, his numerous directing and producing projects, and income from brand partnerships linked to his large social media following.
Personal Life
Despite his public profile, Rana has kept much of his personal life out of the spotlight. What’s known is that he was born in Kumasi, raised there, and later moved to Accra for school and work. He addressed rumors about his sexuality in a 2016 interview, making it clear that much of what circulated was speculation.
As for a long-term partner, marriage, or children, he tends to keep that side of his life private, and until he or a trusted source speaks on it, those details remain off the record.
Filmography (selected)
Some of the most notable films where Rana served as director and/or writer include:
- Kiss Me If You Can (2010)
- 2-Bad
- Crazy
- Hotel Babylon (2012)
- Sala (2017) – featuring Jackie Appiah
- Chaskele (2018)
- 18 (2019)
- Akwaaba (2019)
- Savannah (2021)
- Don’t Sleep
He also appears in front of the camera in several productions and has numerous additional writing and producing credits beyond these titles.
Awards and Nominations
Rana’s work has been recognized repeatedly within Ghana’s film awards circuit:
- In 2010, Kiss Me If You Can pulled in seven nominations at the Ghana Movie Awards, including Best Director and Best Writer, marking him out early as a director to watch.
- In 2012, Hotel Babylon earned nominations in major categories like Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing.
- He took home the City People Entertainment Award for Best Movie Director of the Year in 2015 for I Do.
- In 2021, Savannah was nominated for Best Picture and Best Director at the Ghana Movie Awards, among other categories.
Across different award bodies, he has collected multiple nominations and a handful of wins, reflecting both industry respect and audience appeal.
