Government to partner MUSIGA to fight piracy - Vice President

Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday pledged government’s commitment to partner the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) to fight against piracy of works of artistes and other intellectual property.

“We want to create a situation where musicians and other intellectuals will reap the full benefits of their sweat in the system.”

Vice President Mahama said this when executive members of MUSIGA called on him at the Castle, Osu.

The delegation, led by Bice Owusu Kufour, President of MUSIGA, were at the Castle to thank Government for allocating GHc2 million to the creative industry in the country.

Vice President Mahama said the days that Musicians dwelt on popularity, but wallowed in poverty were over and he would work closely with the Attorney General’s Department to procure the necessary documents for them to implement all the laws against piracy.

“Creative industry is paramount in government’s development agenda as we are so much aware that it can create a number of jobs for people to live comfortably in the country,” he added.

He said previous governments found it difficult to support them because of their divided front and hoped that the current unity they were enjoying would continue to encourage government to scale up support for them.

Vice President Mahama commended them for some of the patriotic songs they had over the years composed particularly during elections and other national programmes.

Mr Kufour, aka Obuor, said his administration would chart a new path to develop musicians and other collaborators to send Ghanaian music into the international market.

He said the Union would encourage members to compose songs that would promote national unity and tolerance, saying "that is why we have come out with national tolerance day programme to promote unity."

Nana Kwame Ampadu I, used a number of anecdotes to express their gratitude to government for the allocation and prayed for more future collaborations.