Che-Che-Kule….Che-Che-Kofisah……Where Do We Go From Here?

In reminiscing into the days when GTV was the only television station in Ghana, one could proudly beat his chest and say” I am a Ghanaian”. Those days, the only rich man in our village could only afford “black and white “TV set. As children, we will abscond from home to queue just to have a glimpse of our favourite programs. Although the TVs at the time could not boast of clear pictures, we could only see what we call “flies” all over TVs. With our dirty limbs as if we had entered dug out pits for mining in Akwatia land, we will stubbornly run from home and TV owners at the time will take the pain to inspect our feet to ascertain if we had our bath. That alone taught us as growing up kids to regularly have our baths.

Parents who could not afford TV were not spared the evening’s regular inspections of whether showered or not- What a mockery it was to parents who couldn’t afford TV sets. Kind-hearted TV owners would display theirs in the

open for all to have a glimpse. The closer you are to the TV, the more “flies” you see. We had to be at a distance to watch TV.

On our TV screens, we learnt names like Grace Omaboe (Maame Dokono), Grace Nortey (Obaa Gyengye/ Maame gyata), Mac Jordan Amartey (Sugar Daddy) with his beer induced belly and I wonder where he got that nick-name. Perhaps his affluence which he uses to entice young girls into relationships did, Nath Banini-who will not finish a complete statement without reminding viewers his tribe through his dialect, Ewe). Pascaline Edwards, Augustine Abbey( Idikoko), Edinam Atatsi, Brew Riverson Jnr, Emmanuel Armah, Fred Amugi, the sensational David Dontoh, Harry Laud, George Williams(Mr. Anderson) Prince Yawson (Waakye) and many others who spiced up Ghanaians television screens with captivating movies.

As growing up kids, we all would wish to become either like these actors and actresses or our poor class teachers; Mr. Asare and Mr. Ntow whose weary shoes converted them into rachitic adults. Actors and actresses at the time were much sensational and passionate in what they display on our television sets. Their willingness and the flair to act and their naturalism in what they do make one misses them.

They graced our evenings with the usual Sunday Akan drama with Super OD and Osorfo Dazdie, our Maame Dokono, and many others leading the role.

Maame Dokono will keep all kids glued to their seats on Saturday sunset with the much engaging “By the fire side” with “Kwaku Ananse” leading the role in his usual self stuffed pregnant –belly and looking cunning in appearance at a glance.

What has happened to those days? The days where everything on GTV was meant to educate and entertain the public? The days where Television was not a necessity but luxury? Luxury in the sense that, kids have to watch educative programs. Adults will watch their side and the evening news will bring to the remotest village the happenings in the country.

I miss the days where once in every week GTV will show the investigative legend “Inspector Bediako” who automatically qualified one Bediako James in my class as an investigator by the mere mentioning of his name ”Bediako”- and he will be looking for a wall to climb and jump over.

He might have been seeing the Inspector do that in the movies. I guess. Where is our cherished and adored Inspector Bediako? The series portrayed how smart and civilized our police and the Criminal Investigation Departments (CIDs) were in tackling criminalities in our system. I remember how the inspector with his protruded eye balls and bearded face would go all the way to unravel the mystery behind a crime. Watching TV was fun and educative

One would also reminisce into the past when the much anticipated kids shows, kwasasa and che-che-kule took center stage of our memory- no complete statement will be made without mentioning ……kwasasa yooo!!!. We all would wait anxiously for che-che-kule on every Saturday afternoon. Adults were not left out of the fun since che-che-kule equally taught all and sundry. Watching the bald-headed man energetically making the kids dance, eat and sing was a complete lesson for the week.

Pupils together with our teachers will sing along the subsequent Monday morning………

Che-che-kule…. cheeeekule

Che-che-kofisah….

Kofi salangah, lala tilangah…..

Kum adede….. adede kum … adede.

Even though we weren’t familiar with the lyrics, we try to imitate the sounds as the kids happily sung on the TV. Watching Television was fun and educative.

A new revolution sprung in the late 1990s where there was media proliferation and Television stations competed the aged and one-way styled GTV. Perhaps Ghanaians were tired of the rigidity GTV newsreaders exhibit in reading the evening news.

As a growing up child, I can vividly remember when TV3 came with its clearer pictures and young but fluent newsreaders to sweep away majority of the viewers of the Station of the nation (GTV). Although Metro TV was in the system, it could then be assessed by residents of Accra and its environs.

Our television stations these days have shifted from locally made dramas and plays from the drama troupe, the concert party groups as well as film industries. Instead, these Mexican and Indian Telonevelas have completely occupied every TV screen - “the woman of my life”, “Juana la virgin”, “Ynna”, “Maricruz”, “Rosa Diamante”, “Priya”, “La Gata”, and many others. These movies when I sat down to analyze their long term effects on viewers, I saw the desire to live a luxurious life in our women, greed, anger, unforgiving heart in many of our viewers. Unlike our Home Sweet Home, Thursday theatre, By the fire side, Akan Drama, Key Soap Concert Party, Cantata, Inspector Bediako etc.

One would disagree and relate it to modernity but if in the late 80s and early 90s; our movie industry can be that creative and make our screens a captivating place, what cant we achieve with same people in the 21st century. Where have the gurus of the time gone to?

Besides, some locally made movies these days have lost their tastes. Ghana National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI), Ghana Film Industry Corporation(GFIC) and the National Media Commission (NMC) need to wake up to reawake the good old days. To revive our dwindling culture mostly exhibited through movies. Some of us miss those days.

All stake holders also need to wake up to help wrestle this situation to bring back those educative programs for our upcoming generations.

When I remember what the national pledge taught me, I only recite the lines ……. I promise to hold in high and esteem………….to uphold and defend the good name of Ghana and we all will chant …………….so help me

God…….Amen.

Wisdom Bonuedi

The writer is a Teacher who writes issues on education, politics, social life and humanity.

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