MUSIGA at congress - Who’s concern?

Folks of the lyrical fraternity this month will mark another significant milestone in the annals of the music industry as members of the Musician Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) are gearing up for this years national congress at the Brong Ahafo Regional capital Sunyani to elect a new “Head of State” and its executives without the usual pomp and pageantry.

In fact one may be deluded into a situation in which you may be taken the congress of this caliber by a professional body like the MUSIGA as an ordinary event. This is because the attention and sort of vigorous campaign attached to such events seems to be eluding this year’s event. Apart from the early brouhaha and rivalry between Gyedu Blay Ambuley and current President of the Union Alhaji Sidiku Buari, which saw the former feeling, being cheated nothing or little is being heard. So far we don’t know those who are competing for what. Everything seems to be shred in secrecy.

For the past couple of years this august body has been engulfed with internal wrangling, bite biting and name calling, even to the extent that others have decided not to have anything to do with the mother union. Today if is not Carlos Sakyi and group who are opposing the current administration, is Faisal Hawani and MUSIGA, so what is happening?

One of the major problems confronting the three arms of the association: Composers, Performers and Producers is trust. Everybody think everybody is a “witch” in MUSIGA. This raised various concerns among the general populace even to the governmental level where some time ago when the then Attorney general Nana Akuffo Addo called for proper accountability and COSGA’s re-election, yet nobody seems to bulge.

If I may ask what has happened to the much-publicized assistance from the World Bank, the Asogli State and its development partners comprising the European Union, UNESCO, Goethe Institute, Alliance Française and the Ghana Government to support Ghana music to become viable? In fact the new President should pursue this to the latter.

These groups seem to be their own enemy’s seeking their individual and selfishness but not the totality of the union. I hope the forth coming congress will create the necessary platform to reform the union to suit today’s dynamisms and realities.

The union is already pluralized and marginalized so we need somebody who can take the bull by the horns to ratify all that has gone wrong and bring together all those who felt cheated or hurt o get on board under our own reconciliation terms.

Some time ago it was about membership, who qualifies to hold office, the issue of Copyright law; Royalties due musicians and other trivial issues should be addressed to bring sanity into the industry. I think our musicians must be prepared to take personal interest in their own affairs in other to fight for what is due them.

In a chat with the PRO of MUSIGA Mr. Clement Ablor-Kommey he said all is set for the congress on November 14th at Sunyani. He stated that about 10-card bearing delegates who pay their dues would be permitted to vote at the congress. He stressed the need of members to be abreast with the constitution of the Union so that the entire hullabaloo surrounding some members of the union can be solved.

“If musicians who comprise the dominant segment of the local music industry can’t take their destiny into their own hands am afraid it is going to be a disaster. They must show interest in their own affairs by participating fully in the up-coming congress to elect the right people to fight for their interest” he said.

So far it is only Mrs. Diana Hopeson formerly Diana Akummi the union’s current Vice President who seems to be the sole candidate for the Presidency after the disqualification of Gyedu Blay-Ambulley, which is scheduled for Sunyani on November 17.

The industry is pronged with various problems from Piracy, Payola, Distribution, Copyright and live equipment, which must be seriously looked at if the union has to grow.