Gov't GH¢2m support to MUSIGA was ‘a curse’ - Obour

Mr Bice Osei-Kuffour aka Obour, President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), has revealed that the GH¢2 million the then National Democratic Congress government allocated to musicians has been a ‘curse’ rather than a good omen to him.

“Last week I was interviewed by another person who also asked what has been my biggest challenge in the music industry, and I told him getting GH¢2 million from the government, and he told me that’s rather a blessing not a challenge…

“I think because you’re asking me about money given to MUSIGA in 2012, that tells you how much that GH¢2 million has been a curse rather than a blessing.”

The Minister of Finance in the erstwhile President Mills administration, Dr Kwabena Duffuor, in his presentation of the 2012 budget on November 16, 2011, disclosed that the government had set aside GH¢2 million to MUSIGA for the development of the creative arts industry.

Ever since the amount was allocated, the President of the union has been hit with a series of allegations of misappropriating that money.

Speaking on Kasapa Entertainment on Kasapa 102.5FM with Kojo Preko Dankwa on Saturday, the MUSIGA President said the money was used purposely to conduct a comprehensive study of the Ghana music industry by KPMG.

He subsequently said he is not perturbed about the embezzlement claims levelled against him by his colleagues in the music industry, since he believes his hands are clean.