Renowned Highlife musician and National Democratic Congress (NDC) Creative Lead, Rex Omar, has called for urgent measures to protect Ghana’s local film industry from being overshadowed by foreign content.

Speaking at the 5th edition of Joy FM's Showbiz Roundtable, themed ‘Manifesto Debate On Creative Economy,’ Mr Omar highlighted the detrimental impact of foreign soap operas, particularly those dubbed in Twi, on the Ghanaian creative sector.

“These days, look at our TV screens; all we see are foreign soap operas with Twi voice-overs. This is harming us, our children, and future generations,” he said on Saturday.

He expressed concern that the dominance of foreign content is not only shaping local culture but also depriving Ghanaian creatives of opportunities, especially actors, directors, and technical staff.

On the back of this, Mr Omar was optimistic that the NDC's flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama's plan to rejuvenate the film industry by creating a "Film Village" and an equipment pool would be a game changer.

According to him, this initiative will allow film producers to rent top-tier equipment at affordable rates, ensuring high-quality film production.

The goal, he said is to increase local content production for both domestic consumption and export, particularly with the opportunities provided by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

“The idea of a Film Village with equipment to be hired out at a low rate for industry members is very important for boosting production and job creation in the sector,” he noted.

The 5th edition of Joy FM's Showbiz Roundtable drew industry stakeholders from the two major political parties; NPP and NDC to discuss the manifesto promises ahead of the 2024 general election, focusing on how policies could shape Ghana's creative economy.