The Arts and Culture sector in Ghana has always been on the neck of the Government with a common cry of neglect. In as much as they have been crying for government’s intervention in terms of financial aid, they have also made the sector a no go area for the media.
The parent bodies of these sectors especially the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), the Copyright Society (COSGA) and the Phonographic Association (GHAPI) always threaten the media with court action when ever pointed queries are raised about their administration. This often happens when it has to do with alleged embezzlement of funds. They only call on the media when they need publicity for their works or when the publication goes in their favor.
The GHAPI, in recent times, has been receiving some support from the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) Fund to ease them from their financial stress. The BUSAC Fund which is aimed at broadening the engagement of the private sector in policy formulation and implementation, specifically give details on what the allocated funds should be used for.
During John Mensah Sarpong’s tenure of office, an account was opened for the BUSAC fund at Social Security Bank, Kumasi branch and the funds from BUSAC were channeled into this account. The question many curious minds have been asking is; are the funds being used for its specific reasons? Painstaking investigations and in-depth research indicates that some of these funds were even supposed to be allocated to the media and it is yet to be established which media outlet were beneficiaries.
Agitating the minds of many people is the issue of monies realized after the expiration of John Mensah Sarpong’s tenure, because it is alleged that the coffers is virtually dry and the signatories to this account is ace music producer, Mark Okraku Mantey and Twum, the IMC handling affairs for the association.
We are not by any stretch of imagination indicting them for appropriation or imputing that these distinguished and honorable gentlemen have embezzled any funds, NO! But is only asking for an education into how this fund, allocated to the association was applied and for what specific purpose. That is not too much, I believe.
Many members of GHAPI and other would-be investors in the music industry strongly believe in the rendering of account of monies spent vis-à-vis the BUSAC Fund and our call is in tune with the voices of the masses. The industry is gradually losing investors, a situation which calls for serious redress, and if accountability and transparency prevails, it is the shared belief of many that it will help revive the dying industry.
