Veteran Ghanaian actor, Fred Nii Amugi, has argued that the promotion of foreign telenovela series on local TV stations is subverting the Ghanaian cultural heritage.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic, the actor said the popularity of these sought-after soap operas, which are often dubbed primarily into the Twi dialect, is becoming a negative trend that is gradually eroding Ghanaians’ cultural identity, particularly among children.
“The constant showing of foreign telenovelas, even translated into local languages, undermines our own culture. It’s like showing an Indian actor speaking Twi and worshipping their goddess! This is not good for our future, especially our children. We need to stop loving cheap things and start valuing our own creativity,” he said.
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Mr Amugi also stated that the lack of unity in the Ghanaian film industry was due to disunity among the actors themselves. According to him if they could work together unanimously the acting fraternity would be able to churned out great films to project their talents.
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“The film industry in Ghana needs unity. Right now, everyone is working alone because they’re afraid of being copied or stolen from. But the truth is, no matter how much we know, someone else always knows more. If we work in unity, we could make great films that showcase our different talents and perspectives,” he added.
Mr Amugi cited soap operas as one of the major reasons for the decline in local content production, stating that many TV stations prefer the cheap and profitable options of dubbing foreign content into local languages rather than paying Ghanaian actors to produce local content that resonates with Ghanaians.
Mr. Amugi cited the backing of DSTV’s Akwaaba Magic, which has given Ghanaian films and series a platform to flourish, as a reason for his continued optimism for the future of Ghana’s film industry.
“We’re lucky to have Akwaaba Magic on DStv, which has provided a platform for our films. They’ve been supportive and willing to work with us, and the films they show are good. If we keep making good movies, we’ll benefit from their support, ” he said.
