Alhaji Sidiku Buari, has been re-elected unopposed for a second four-year term as President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) at the Union's Congress in Ho.
The Congress retained Diana Akiwumi as the Union's first Vice-President following the last minute withdrawal of Blessed Gregory. Also elected unopposed were Togbe Edinam Ansah, President of the Volta Region Branch of the Union, as Second Vice-President and Prince Osei Kofi, Welfare Officer. Dr Cosmos Mireku, a Lecturer at the Winneba University College of Education got 67 votes to defeat Okyeame Bediako who had 14 votes to become the General-Secretary. Elizabeth Brebi, with a slim margin of 41 votes to 40 beat Kofi Abraham for the post of Treasurer.
The elections were conducted by a team of officers from the Volta region office of the Electoral Commission led by Mr Mohammed Adoquaye the Regional Electoral Officer. The atmosphere of anxiety and suspense before the proceedings fizzled out giving way to excitement when Professor George Hagan, Chairman of the National Commission on Culture (NCC) invited the 82 delegates and invited guests to the dancing floor.
Professor Hagan who chaired the function said he considered the congress as "terribly important" as MUSIGA was the flagship association of all artistic groups in the country. He said no impediment must therefore, be put into its operations.
Professor Hagan was grateful that in spite of "some little misunderstanding", MUSIGA had been able to assemble for the congress, which it was enjoined by its own constitution to hold every four years. He promised them the support of government and urged musicians to do nothing to undermine its operations.
Professor Hagan requested the Union to present to the NCC proposals for its programme to address poverty and illiteracy among its ranks and also pledged to study the Union's suggestion that its members should be given loans for productions.
Mr Mawutor Goh, Ho District Chief Executive (DCE), who represented the Regional Minister criticised the adulteration of Ghanaian music by performers. He said a distinctly Ghanaian music holds the promise of doing better on the international scene. Mr Mawutor Goh also spoke against the increasing use of sexually suggestive lyrics in recent productions, saying it had the potential to corrupt morals especially the youth.
Alhaji Sidiku Buari, said during the four years of his tenure, the Union had increased its membership, acquired an office and contributed to many national programmes. He appealed to government to reduce duties on musical instruments to make them affordable to musicians, whose products could fetch more foreign exchange.
