Kufuor urges filmmakers to integrate African culture in productions

The President, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor on Saturday stressed the role of television as a channel in building the self confidence of Ghanaians and asked editors and film- makers to make a deliberate effort to integrate African culture and heritage in their productions.

He challenged filmmakers and producers to find a blend between programmes that would take the best of what the outside world had to offer and what could be produced in Ghana.

President Kufuor threw the challenge at the out-dooring of the offices and studios of TV Africa, a television station complex, in Accra.

President Kufuor noted that those who controlled the airwaves and television channels determined the agenda of the world, and added, however, that for far too long Africans had relied on outsiders to tell their story more often to their discomfiture.

He said the relentless onslaught of foreign cultures on the Ghanaian media threatened her identity, and added that the situation had put a grave responsibility on editors and filmmakers to make a deliberate effort to integrate Ghanaian culture and heritage in their productions.

The President said the print and the electronic media must be run to attract and retain public interest adding that it was time for the rest of the world, to turn to Ghanaian stations as authoritative last word on Ghanaian politics and culture.

President Kufuor stated that government was not interested in engaging in fruitless battles with the media adding, "All our energies are better directed to finding solutions to the problems facing the nation."

He reiterated government's determination to work with the media to transform the society and gave the assurance that it would continue to do its part to ensure an atmosphere that would invigorate and make media practice in Ghana.

President Kufuor commended the entrepreneurial spirit of Mr Caw Ansah, the founder of TV Africa, prayed that for the success of the station and expressed the hope that the finesse of the surroundings would spur the staff and artistes to come off with their best.

Professor Alex Quarmyne, a media and communications expert, who chaired the out-dooring reminded the radio and television stations that they were holding the airwaves in trust for Ghanaians.

That, he added, imposed a responsibility on them to produce and broadcast programmes that were of cultural, social and economic benefit to the people.

Mr Kwaw Ansah, the founder and Executive Producer of TV Africa described the station as the fulfilment of a life-long ambition to use the media to portray all that was positive in the African culture and values so that Africans could realise their full potential as a people.

He said it was unfortunate that there was much negative portrayal of Africa not only on the international media, but also in the African media, which tended to disseminate foreign values.

Mr Ansah said more sacrifices would have to be made in the days ahead of the station in telling the African story as it is, adding, "without a true sense of who we are, all that we are trying to achieve will undermine itself."

President Kufuor and Mr Ansah later unveiled a plaque to commemorate the outdooring ceremony.

Solidarity messages were read from the National Media Commission, the Independent Broadcasters Association and the Ghana Journalists Association.