Mrs. Diana Hopeson, President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), on Tuesday kicked against musicians involved in active partisan political campaign saying that it was not prudent.
“Musicians are role models and since our fans are all not from the same political party, it is prudent not to show one’s party affiliation at this time in our country where we are still nursing our democracy,” she said. She expressed her concern in response to the recent involvement of both secular and gospel musicians in the campaign activities of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
At NPP’s rally in Takoradi, where the flag bearer’s running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was introduced to the public, both young and old popular musicians mounted the NPP platform and campaigned for the ruling party.
These musicians included Nana Amapdu, C. K. Mann, K. K. Fosu, Praye, Wutah, Castro and A-Plus among others.
Grace Omaboe, a renowned Ghana actor and TV presenter and singer and one time parliamentary candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) at Birim North also mounted the NPP platform and campaigned for the ruling party.
Prior to the rally, local gospel musicians led by Pastor Josh Laryea, had held two concerts, one in Takoradi and another in Kumasi, all in support of the ruling party.
The Musiga president noted that much as music and politics go hand in hand, it was not in the interest of the country’s young democracy for musicians to make their political affiliations public even though nothing stopped them from voting for a party of their choice.
“Musicians as members of the public have a right to belong to a political party and vote during election time, but unlike the US where their democracy is 200 years old, Ghana is only 18 years and it would be unwise to liken ourselves to them absolutely,” she said.
Mrs. Hopeson noted that since our democratic rule began, the MUSIGA had been organizing non partisan peaceful election campaigns in all the regions, which was often carried live on national television. She said this had yielded very positive responses over the years, adding that MUSIGA had also recorded peace songs in various Ghanaian dialects to educate the public towards a peaceful election.
“We need to stick to our unifying role as musicians in the interest of public peace.
“As musicians, it’s easier for us to make peace since we speak the language of the soul - as peace makers, if we publicly take sides, how can we really be taken as peace makers,” she said. Mrs. Hopeson therefore urged both independent musicians and members of MUSIGA to stay out of partisan politics and help build mother Ghana at this crucial time.
