Highlife artist Rex Omar has expressed concern over the increasing trend of local TV channels broadcasting foreign telenovelas with Twi translations.
He believes that the proliferation of foreign soap operas on Ghanaian television, presented in Twi, has negative repercussions for the advancement and acknowledgment of local talents. It also projects Ghana as lacking seriousness in its creative endeavors.
During a recent interview with Property FM, Rex Omar argued that an excessive reliance on foreign content conveys the message that the country lacks confidence in its own creative abilities. This not only diminishes the visibility of Ghanaian actors, writers, and producers but also constrains opportunities for local storytelling and the nurturing of homegrown talent.
“Right now look at our media landscape, all the soap operas we’re showing on TV are foreign which they’ve used our local languages to interpret. This thing is causing the nation a lot of havoc and who is talking about that but Ghana is like a country without governance so everyone does what they want.“
“Because there is nowhere in any civilised country like you go to India and they are showing Ghanaian soap opera on TV but they’re using India language to do the interpretation. Or maybe you go to Britain and they’ll be showing Ghanaian soap opera on their popular TV station with their language, it doesn’t happen and it’s only Ghana.”
Rex Omar believes that dedicating resources to nurture local talents, promoting indigenous productions, and creating a platform for Ghanaian narratives will not only stimulate economic growth but also safeguard the nation’s distinctive cultural heritage.