The first Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei Owusu, has described the proliferation of foreign television programmes in the country, as very worrying.

The Chairman of the Appointments Committee, stated that many TV stations are airing these telenovelas to the detriment of Ghanaian content.

Mr Owusu, speaking at the vetting of Deputy Tourism Minister designate Mark Okraku-Mantey, stated that he finds it offensive especially when the voice overs for the shows are in the local Ghanaian language.

He said that “it’s very interesting. I’m not very much of a television person. I hardly watch, apart from the news. But anytime I go home from work, what I see is something that is not familiar to me. It’s not Ghanaian even though they are purporting to show it in Ghanaian languages."

"Kumkum Bhagya and there are some new one, I find it very offensive so I go straight to stay in my bedroom. I don't want anything to do with those things. And it is growing. What happened to our series like by the fireside, Ghallywood, Kumawood, what happened to them?" he asked.

The Member of Parliament for Bekwai stated that it's a cause for concern because these foreign contents have become the norm on our screens.

Mr Owusu quizzed Mr Okraku-Mantey on how he plans to ensure that Ghanaian content once again becomes the core of television programming in Ghana.

The former Creative Art Council President stated that there are plans to build a film studio that will help producers make standardised content that can compete with foreign ones.

“We must be ready to compete as a country as well because even if the people of Ghana do not consume via television, they’ll consume via phone because of online activities so we must be ready to shoot films that are exportable, that we can also consume based on our culture.”

He also added that talks have been going on with the National Media Commission and other industry stakeholders to push the 70-30 agenda.

This, he explained, will allow TV and radio stations to broadcast 70% Ghanaian and 30% foreign content.