Famous Ghanaian actor Fred Amugi claims that our cultural legacy is being undermined by the overabundance of foreign telenovelas on local TV networks.
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Mr. Amugi voiced his worries that our own cultural identity is being undermined by the ongoing broadcast of foreign soap operas, even when they are translated into local languages, in an interview with the Daily Graphic. He emphasised that this trend is bad for our future, especially for our children, and compared it to an Indian actor speaking Twi and worshipping their gods.
He underlined that we should value our own creative endeavours instead of embracing inexpensive entertainment.
Mr. Amugi asserts that the absence of cohesion and collaboration in the local film industry is the reason behind the success of foreign telenovelas in Ghana. This impedes the creation of outstanding films that can compete on a continental scale. “Ghana’s film industry needs to come together. Currently, everyone is working independently due to the fear of plagiarism.
There will always be someone who knows more than we do, though, and that is something we must accept. We can make amazing films that highlight our various skills and viewpoints if we collaborate,” he said. Mr. Amugi’s worries about foreign telenovelas’ popularity on local TV align with the current discussions about how globalisation affects regional cultures.
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Due to TV stations’ preference for the easier and more lucrative method of translating foreign content into local languages rather than investing in local productions, local cultures are gradually disappearing as a result of global interconnectedness.
The proliferation of foreign telenovelas on Ghanaian TV stations has exacerbated the decline in local content production.
