MUSIGA's unfair treatment to Ambolley (I)

Last Monday the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) vetted all those contesting the various positions in the union’s forthcoming elections slated for November 14 at Sunyani.

The vetting committee members included Justice Mingle of Radio Ghana, Akwesi Aboagye of Peace FM, DJ Abio of Channel R, Yaw Poku from the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture and Enoch Narh, formerly of the Copyright Society of Ghana (COSGA).

The rest were Togbe Ehlah from the National Commission on Culture (NCC), Fred Tetteh from the Electoral Commission and K. K. Yeboah, a musician.

During the turn of Nana Gyedu Blay Ambolley, it was apparent that the members of the committee had already disqualified him or had the intention of preventing him from contesting.

After listening to various statements from the committee members, all of whom have not even composed songs before, it became obvious that they were brought in only to disqualify Ambolley, as many see him as a threat to certain figures in the industry.

It is on record that those who instituted the vetting committee were selected without going through the due process.

Since the establishment of MUSIGA none of its office holders had ever been made to appear before a vetting committee.

Certain radio presenters who only play music and do not know how music is composed and arranged were also on the panel, asking what many would describe as irrelevant and undermining questions.

This raises many questions as to who instituted the vetting committee and on what grounds or criteria? Did the constitution of MUSIGA say so, and if yes, what were the criteria used in forming the vetting committee?

It was sad to know the committee members did not even know much about the activities of MUSIGA and its constitution.

They ignorantly asked Ambolley to bring a document to prove that he was once vice president of the union, something they could have asked the union to provide them.

It is on record that Ambolley served the union as vice president in Koo Nimo’s administration. As to whether he served for two years or more, the fact still remains that he had served as vice president before.

The committee, during the sitting, stated that Ambolley had not paid his dues although his membership card had been endorsed by the union’s president, Alhaji Sidiku Buari.

This also raised questions as to why Sidiku Buari endorsed the card although he knew it was indicated in the card that Ambolley did not pay for it?

The MUSIGA boss was however not invited to answer the question and his employee who issued the card was rather invited to answer questions but he could not give the committee a concrete answer.

Ambolley explained to the committee that on renewing his card, Sidiku endorsed it without collecting any money.

He explained further that it was because he was a life patron and it was with that justification that the MUSIGA boss signed his card.

However, the committee requested Ambolley to produce his life patron card if indeed he was one, but he could not produce it, saying he was not aware the union had a life patron card.

So if Sidiku knew Ambolley was a life patron and endorsed his card for free, why didn’t he give him or notify him about the life patron card?

Ambolley told the committee that even if he had no life patron card, records at the union’s office should able to prove he was vice president of the union from 1979 and with that, automatically he was life patron as stipulated in article 14 of the union’s constitution.

Instead of making MUSIGA provide the records, the committee ruled out Ambolley’s statement and asked him if during his tenure he kept records as vice president.

It is MUSIGA’s responsibility to provide the vetting committee with all relevant information on its past leaders from 1975 to 1999; It is the duty of MUSIGA to provide all that information and not Ambolley’s.

Between 1975 and 1992 MUSIGA did not have good structures and was using a chamber and hall at the Kawukudi Junction, near Gold House, as its offices.

There were some vital information about the past leaders that the union could not make available to the press or the public including the committee members.

Beatwaves however challenged that the union’s administration should be able to provide records on all its office holders including past ones.

If it cannot provide information on previous office holders, then it should not waste anybody’s time with the so-called vetting of those who want to contest the various positions.

Those contesting for MUSIGA positions who appeared before the committee included Papa Yaw Johnson, C.K Boisen and Osei Kofi, aka Prince, all of whom were contesting for the Welfare Officer position.

Gospel musician, Ernest Kwesi Annin and Amandzeba Nat Brew also appeared for General Secretary and second Vice President positions respectively.

Nana Ampadu and Smart Ahadzi however could not appear before the committee. According to Sidiku Buari, anybody who failed to come for the vetting has disqualified himself or herself.

Veteran Edinam Ansah, the out-going second vice president and A.B Crentsil were also vetted. It was after them that Ambolley was invited to “face the wrath of the committee”.

The next was Mrs. Diana Hopeson, who briefed the committee on her plans if she becomes the next MUSIGA president. She mentioned that she would collaborate with the National Media Commission to check profanity in the music industry.

After the proceedings, one of the committee members said to Mrs. Hopeson: “You are the right person for the presidency”. The statement indicated the hidden agenda of some of the committee members.

Press attendance was poor and even the few pressmen who were present were alleged to be close pals of the current MUSIGA president.

Last Monday the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) vetted all those contesting the various positions in the union’s forthcoming elections slated for November 14 at Sunyani.

The vetting committee members included Justice Mingle of Radio Ghana, Akwesi Aboagye of Peace FM, DJ Abio of Channel R, Yaw Poku from the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture and Enoch Narh, formerly of the Copyright Society of Ghana (COSGA).

The rest were Togbe Ehlah from the National Commission on Culture (NCC), Fred Tetteh from the Electoral Commission and K. K. Yeboah, a musician.

During the turn of Nana Gyedu Blay Ambolley, it was apparent that the members of the committee had already disqualified him or had the intention of preventing him from contesting.

After listening to various statements from the committee members, all of whom have not even composed songs before, it became obvious that they were brought in only to disqualify Ambolley, as many see him as a threat to certain figures in the industry.

It is on record that those who instituted the vetting committee were selected without going through the due process.

Since the establishment of MUSIGA none of its office holders had ever been made to appear before a vetting committee.

Certain radio presenters who only play music and do not know how music is composed and arranged were also on the panel, asking what many would describe as irrelevant and undermining questions.

This raises many questions as to who instituted the vetting committee and on what grounds or criteria? Did the constitution of MUSIGA say so, and if yes, what were the criteria used in forming the vetting committee?

It was sad to know the committee members did not even know much about the activities of MUSIGA and its constitution.

They ignorantly asked Ambolley to bring a document to prove that he was once vice president of the union, something they could have asked the union to provide them.

It is on record that Ambolley served the union as vice president in Koo Nimo’s administration. As to whether he served for two years or more, the fact still remains that he had served as vice president before.

The committee, during the sitting, stated that Ambolley had not paid his dues although his membership card had been endorsed by the union’s president, Alhaji Sidiku Buari.

This also raised questions as to why Sidiku Buari endorsed the card although he knew it was indicated in the card that Ambolley did not pay for it?

The MUSIGA boss was however not invited to answer the question and his employee who issued the card was rather invited to answer questions but he could not give the committee a concrete answer.

Ambolley explained to the committee that on renewing his card, Sidiku endorsed it without collecting any money.

He explained further that it was because he was a life patron and it was with that justification that the MUSIGA boss signed his card.

However, the committee requested Ambolley to produce his life patron card if indeed he was one, but he could not produce it, saying he was not aware the union had a life patron card.

So if Sidiku knew Ambolley was a life patron and endorsed his card for free, why didn’t he give him or notify him about the life patron card?

Ambolley told the committee that even if he had no life patron card, records at the union’s office should able to prove he was vice president of the union from 1979 and with that, automatically he was life patron as stipulated in article 14 of the union’s constitution.

Instead of making MUSIGA provide the records, the committee ruled out Ambolley’s statement and asked him if during his tenure he kept records as vice president.

It is MUSIGA’s responsibility to provide the vetting committee with all relevant information on its past leaders from 1975 to 1999; It is the duty of MUSIGA to provide all that information and not Ambolley’s.

Between 1975 and 1992 MUSIGA did not have good structures and was using a chamber and hall at the Kawukudi Junction, near Gold House, as its offices.

There were some vital information about the past leaders that the union could not make available to the press or the public including the committee members.

Beatwaves however challenged that the union’s administration should be able to provide records on all its office holders including past ones.

If it cannot provide information on previous office holders, then it should not waste anybody’s time with the so-called vetting of those who want to contest the various positions.

Those contesting for MUSIGA positions who appeared before the committee included Papa Yaw Johnson, C.K Boisen and Osei Kofi, aka Prince, all of whom were contesting for the Welfare Officer position.

Gospel musician, Ernest Kwesi Annin and Amandzeba Nat Brew also appeared for General Secretary and second Vice President positions respectively.

Nana Ampadu and Smart Ahadzi however could not appear before the committee. According to Sidiku Buari, anybody who failed to come for the vetting has disqualified himself or herself.

Veteran Edinam Ansah, the out-going second vice president and A.B Crentsil were also vetted. It was after them that Ambolley was invited to “face the wrath of the committee”.

The next was Mrs. Diana Hopeson, who briefed the committee on her plans if she becomes the next MUSIGA president. She mentioned that she would collaborate with the National Media Commission to check profanity in the music industry.

After the proceedings, one of the committee members said to Mrs. Hopeson: “You are the right person for the presidency”. The statement indicated the hidden agenda of some of the committee members.

Press attendance was poor and even the few pressmen who were present were alleged to be close pals of the current MUSIGA president.