Entertainment of Friday, 5 September 2014

Source: Flex newspaper

PETITION: The need for GTV to #BringBack 'Kwasaasa', others

What a week full of controversies. Some musicians decided to air their views about the current economic situations in Ghana, starting from Ghana's music icon, Sarkodie releasing 'inflation' preceded by the 'Free Press' song which also addressed the Ghanaian media that was not well-received well by some members of the media.

Honestly, they have all the right to be mad at Sarkodie though I will plead with them to pardon the young man whom I think did not foresee the repercussions of what he put out.

The 'Inflation' song that addresses the economy has some strings that might hurt the Sarkodie brand especially when our part of the world does not understand the political terrain properly.

Sarkodie, please be mindful because with or without you, Ghanaian music will still be great because the legendary Obrafour is not even mentioned. Herh! Sarkodie who didn't even know Root I, former host of TV3 Music Music was a musician now think he is the best already?

To the main issue at hand, I am knocking on the door of the mother of all TV stations in Ghana with regards to time of its establishment, Ghana Television (GTV) for what I will call a clarion call on management to revise their mission and vision because something essential is missing on their programme list that needs to be re-introduced the earlier, the better.

I have always had issues with GTV in regards to their content but I quickly pinch myself to the realization that GTV is a nation's channel hence cannot be compared to the private channels when it comes to content though that does not mean they cannot do better than I see.

A reader of this column has for the past three weeks been 'petitioning' with me via Whatsapp to ask GTV to help bring back certain programmes because she thinks the content on the channel is skewed to favour the adult forgetting the youth and I was not surprised she raised this concern.

To tell the truth, I wanted to put the request on hold but it keeps dawning on me that I really need to start my investigation to set the write up on the road yet as reluctant as I was, I had no choice than to set off to finding out what is happening to kids shows; 'Fun World', 'By the Fire Side', 'Kwasaasa Show', etc.

I must confess, my findings on all these shows proved that they are privately produced shows and not a GTV-owned programmes so I cannot compel the outfit to even telecast these programmes on business grounds; yet I can certainly ask them on moral grounds which is my reason for this piece to consider children to learn through the above mentioned programmes.

While some of these shows helped heighten the development of children's knowledge, others brought out the creativity in them as 'Fun World' unearthed talents like Tic Tac, Ex-Doe, Sydney, etc. not forgetting the quota 'By the Fire Side' which discovered some actors.

And the moral lessons learnt from the stories that are told to the children who in a way helped instill discipline in all of us and again keeping in touch with our culture.

Reason why I have not mentioned the National Theatre in my plea is because they still host the 'Fun World' show but their issue now is the coverage and you and I know that it is only the TV coverage that will do the magic of sending the visuals to our various homes.

The outcome of my checks at the National Theatre is the more reason i want to plead with GTV and it is GTV I am pleading with because that is where I have the right to demand as a tax payer but if any of the well-doing TV stations want to hear my plea, it is very much welcomed.

Let's build a better future for our children because we seem to be toying with our children's future in this country.

'The trusted and authentic voice'; please come to the aid of Ghanaian children as the social responsibility of the channel.