MUSIGA convoy in accident

A bus carrying some members of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) who were returning from their national congress in Sunyani got involved in a fatal accident at Afesipah near Tanoso in the Tano North district of the Brong Ahafo Region.

According to an eyewitness who was also on board the vehicle, a taxicab, in an attempt to cross the bus, had a head-on collision with it, causing the bus to veer off the road.

The taxi was reported to have had its engine thrown out, with the car mangled beyond recognition, while the bus also run into a thick plantation along the road before coming to a halt.

The eyewitness said everyone on the bus sustained some degree of injury, with about 10 of them in very critical condition.

The injured are currently on admission at the Duayaw Nkwanta and Sunyani Hospitals.

At the time of going to press it had not been confirmed whether there were any deaths in the accident, which occurred at about 3:00pm.

Meanwhile, MUSIGA, in spite of an Accra High Court injunction placed on its national congress, had a successful election in Sunyani.

Mrs. Diana Hopson, who contested unopposed is now the president-elect of the union. Nat Brew, Jude Lomotey and Nana Kwame Ampadu also stood unopposed for the positions of second vice president, treasurer and general secretary respectively.

However, the positions of first vice president and national welfare officer were keenly contested.

While A.B Crenstil beat Torgbui Edinam Mensah to win the first vice president position, C.K. Morrison triumphed over Prince Osei Kofi to assume the national welfare officer position.

Mrs. Hopson has however extended an olive branch to all and sundry in the music industry.

In an interview with DAILY GUIDE, she stated emphatically that she and her executives were ready to work with people with like-minds to move the union forward and create better opportunities for musicians in the country.

On the court injunction sought by Gyedu Blay Ambolley, Mrs Hopson indicated that as far as she was concerned the union had not received any such notice restraining it from holding the congress.

In a telephone conversation, Mr. Ambolley stressed that he was not at the congress because he had earlier sought an injunction from an Accra Fast Track High Court to stop the congress.

He debunked allegations that he had not paid his dues for several years and was therefore disqualified from contesting.

Earlier in an interview with the current president of MUSIGA, Alhaji Sidiku Buari, he indicated that Ambolley was disqualified after the vetting committee set up by the union found out that he was not a member in good standing, claiming Ambolley did not even pay for his membership card.

The chairman of the National Commission on Culture, Professor George Hagan was at the congress to lend his support and advised that any differences that existed between the factions in the union should be resolved amicably.

He urged the executives not to see their critics as enemies but rather embrace the criticisms to guide them in their deliberations to make the union stronger and united.