Ghanaian actor and brand influencer Mikki Osei Berko has expressed dissatisfaction with local media houses that frequently air telenovelas.
In an interview with Elsie Lamar on Talkertainment on GhanaWebTV, he stated that the prevalence of foreign content, particularly telenovelas, that has overshadowed local productions in Ghana, should be criminalised.
The actor said the government should arrest and prosecute the authorities of media houses involved in airing such foreign content.
“I think the telenovelas shown on TV lately are criminal. Because we are not telling our own stories, but they get to bring them into the country. It’s like importing dead chickens into the country while we have lands where we can construct poultry farms that would provide better nutrition, economic benefits, and employment… And that is what we are doing to our arts.
“I think executives of television stations that show these programmes should be arrested for doing that because they are killing the economy,” he said.
He also criticised the fact that these stations are paying for foreign content while some Ghanaian actors and directors are still jobless.
“We are paying foreign directors and actors while our own actors and producers don’t have jobs, and that is criminal,” he said.
Mikki Osei Berko further called for reforms that will promote locally made movies.
“We need to be heard because it is damaging, and we need to make reforms. Media houses should be made to show Ghanaian content instead of foreign content; it is a must, and it is one of these things that I will fight for when I get the opportunity. Because even if we don’t benefit, the future and the country should benefit from it.
“Our work doesn’t bring money to only our pockets; it serves the country as well,” he added.
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