MUSIGA expresses confidence, support for Copyright Act

Accra, Feb. 1, GNA - The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) has expressed confidence and support for the new Copyright Act 2005, which was passed by Parliament and given presidential accent.

In a statement issued in Accra and signed by its President Alhaji Sidiku Buari, the Union said it saw nothing wrong with the new law, which should warrant an amendment. It said if anything at all the new law should be put on trial before any loopholes were detected. The statement said agitations by the so called National Music Council spearheaded by the Institute for Music Development for amendments to the law, which had not been tested was misplaced, frivolous and vexatious, adding that it must be ignored and treated with contempt.

The statement emphasised that nowhere in the world did a non-governmental organisation (NGO) formulate policies or laws for a country but government or a National Music Council overseeing the music industry.

The MUSIGA said it would use every legal or constitutional means to challenge any attempt by the so-called Institute for Music and Development, their cronies or agents to lobby the Attorney General's Department for any further doctoring of the copyright document. The statement described as a false start moves to institute a National Music Council to be affiliated to the International Music Council (IMC). This was because the IMC Board was currently facing a difficult financial situation.

Investigations showed that the Board for the year 2005 registered a major deficit in its finances and was trying to find creative solutions for cost reduction and fund raising.

The statement explained that the IMC was a membership organisation created in 1949 by the Director General of UNESCO as an advisory to the agency on musical matters and functions just as an international NGO. "MUSIGA therefore does not see all the fuss being made about the Council and its affiliate, the National Music Council overseeing the music industry in Ghana." The statement added.