MUSIGA cautions media to check facts before going public

Accra, July 30, GNA - The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) on Monday cautioned the media to cross-check their facts with the Union before going public, saying, some persons with hidden agenda and with links to the media had been undermining the Union without any basis. A statement signed by Alhaji Sidiku Buari, President of MUSIGA described some of the stories as "fictitious and lies intended to destroy the hard earned reputation of the Union and it present administration".

The statement commended the late Joe Mensah, part President of the Union, Ebo Hawkson, former Deputy National Chairman, Commission on Culture, Nana Kwame Ampadu, former General Secretary through whose initiative the NDC government donated to it its present headquarters. The present administration renovated the facility and furnished it on modern standards to befit the Union's status and also constructed a performing theatre in addition to a modern restaurant, the statement said.

"Again under the present administration musicians are made to sign performance contracts with managers and producers. It was also instrumental in the enactment of the new Copyright Law to check piracy." The Law, the statement said was only awaiting the Legislative Instrument to make if effective.

The waiving of taxes on imported musical instruments by the present government followed appeals from Alhaji Buari, the statement said noting that: "Today musicians enjoy tax exemptions on some key musical instruments imported."

It said a number of musicians today owned houses, studios, cars and other property as compared to the impoverished state they were in a few years back.

On copyright, the statement said about 95 percent of rights owners were now receiving royalties, which was not the case in the past, noting that every six months composers and publishers were paid royalties for their intellectual property rights.