There is no organisation known as Ghana Music Awards UK - Sidiku

Accra, Aug 06, GNA - The President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Alhaji Sidiku Buari, who is also the Vice President of the International Federation of Musicians (IFM), has said that his investigations with the British Musicians Union has revealed that there is no organisation called Ghana Music Awards, UK.

In a statement in Accra on Saturday, he stated that MUSIGA was not part of the Ghana Music Awards, UK and said the fact that he attended the Awards in 2003, did not make MUSIGA part of the event. He said his presence at the event was to investigate all about the event and stated that, he was invited to the programme meant to raise funds for a charity in Ghana.

Alhaji Sidiku Buari pointed out that he went to London at his own expense and bore his flight and other expenses three years ago only to realise that it was not meant for the stated purpose. The President of MUSIGA said he was today opposed to the organisation of the Awards because it was meant to dupe the ignorant Ghanaian Musician.

He stated that as the President of MUSIGA and Vice President of IFM, he was well placed to advise members of the Union, adding that, that he was only advising young Musicians on the constitutional demand for them to seek approval before participating in foreign events like the Awards.

Alhaji Sidiku Buari said the clause in the constitution was to guide and protect members of the Union from organisers who thought they could exploit Musicians.

He said that he would like to make it clear to the Ghana Music Awards, UK that MUSIGA was a professional body, which regulated its members and would not expose them to dubious organisations under the guise of honouring and giving them awards.

The statement stated that if Ghana Music Awards, UK had anything to offer Ghanaian Musicians, it should furnish MUSIGA with the criteria for the Awards and the Union would cooperate with them. "Much as we have nothing against any group or individuals trying to honour our members, the executives owe it a responsibility to protect them from the vampires," it said.

He assured the organisers of the Awards irrespective of the personalities behind them that that he would do everything legitimately within his power as President of MUSIGA and Vice President of IFM to thwart their attempts to dupe Ghanaian Musicians.