Though per the National Commission on Culture’s National Cultural Policy, TV stations in Ghana are supposed to use their contents to project Ghana’s arts, culture and value systems, most TV stations across the length and breadth of Ghana do not comply.
Some players in Ghana’s creative art industry have complained bitterly for almost a decade now over the influx of foreign contents – telenovelas, soaps, sitcoms, movies, music, etc. on Ghanaian TV channels, but, it appears the gaffe has come to stay.
Whilst some posit that such foreign contents, the telenovelas to be precise, should be scrapped off our screens, those who think otherwise, also opine that Ghana is a free market economy which ensures free entry and exit of investors/investment – so no authority, policy, or law can enjoin any TV station on what they should show on their channels.
Contrary to the second school of thought, the National Commission on Culture’s NCC national cultural policy, require TV stations in Ghana to show 70% Ghanaian content and 30% foreign content. Below is what the Policy – 11.2 directs under TELEVISION: “Television shall be used:
“A – to project Ghanaian arts, culture and value systems; enhance national consciousness and self-reliance by; drawing on indigenous sources and resources to its project content, making its programme content relevant to Ghanaian realities, history and aspirations, giving adequate attention and coverage to programmes featuring children, traditional intellectuals’ artist and other custodians of culture and public service.”
The C part states unequivocally: “Making its programmes 70% Ghanaian and 30% foreign.” The main objective of the national cultural policy captured in the 2004 gazette and foreword by then President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Agyekum Kufour, is to document and promote Ghana’s traditional cultural values, ensure growth and development of our cultural institutions and make them relevant to human development, democratic governance, and national integration, amongst others.
Unfortunately, most contents on TV channels in Ghana are foreign – a total contravention of the national cultural policy. For reactions to this development, I called in on the office of the National Media Commission and had an exclusive interview with the PRO of the Commission, Miss Sandra Boison.