The president of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Diana Hopson,
has urged the government to institute the legal framework on the
passage of the Copyright Bill to ensure strict adherence to the law.
“The Bill as it stands now, is being flouted with impunity because full adherence has not been added to the law to ensure its effectiveness to deal with people who are flouting it.”
She said in an address here at the Volta Regional Congress of the union to elect officers for a four – year term.
Florence Adzameti chairs the six-member executive with Rizo Lino as her vice.
Others are Richard Adjei, secretary; Wisdom Amegayibor, welfare officer; Rosemary Okanza, treasurer and William Dorneh Akporsu, organiser.
Mrs. Hopson expressed concern about delay in the passage of the bill into law and stressed on the need for the government to expedite action on its passage so as to deal with all those operating illegally in the industry.
She called on musicians to develop a business plan before entering the studio.
She disclosed that the newly elected national executive of the union had developed a plan of action including cataloguing of music on the internet to expose piracy, transparency in the collection of royalties and education of musicians to move the industry forward.
Amandzeba Brew, second national vice chairman of the union, called on musicians to change their attitude so as to earn respect and not to demand it to enable them to share their vision with other cultural practitioners to transform the industry.
He said that the minimum scheme for musicians was being reviewed and new administrative structures put in place to have linkages with non-governmental organisations to help create more wealth for musicians to avoid frustration when they were aged.
In her acceptance speech, Mrs. Adameti thanked the members for the confidence reposed on her by retaining her unopposed and appealed to the losers to team up with her to move the industry forward in the region.
“The industry in the region is dying due to apathy and we must all be team players to revive it to earn respect among other professions.”
Mrs. Adzameti advised those who have opted out of the union to rescind their decision.
Earlier, in a welcome address, Richard Agyei, regional secretary of the union, commended members of the union for the peaceful election despite, earlier threats by some members to boycott the elections and advised them to bury their differences and forge ahead.
