MUSIGA raises red flag over profanity in Ghanaian music

The Musician Union of Ghana [MUSIGA] is raising concerns over the rising incidence of obscene lyrics in music being churned out by musicians in the country.

The Union is more alarmed by the fact that most of these profane songs which do not have radio edit versions, are played on radio during primetime and given currency on social media, something it has described as disturbing.

Coordinator of MUSIGA Academy, Ahuma Bosco Ocansey , is thus urging Parliament to intervene by way of legislation to regulate the current trend where obscene lyrics are becoming the order of the day.

He noted it is currently the National Media Commission which has the responsibility of regulating what goes on air and if all these fail, the only option left will be parliamentarians to come in and regulate what can be said and what can’t be said in songs.

“When it comes to music, the framers of our laws never foresaw these days and I want to believe that if our parliamentarians are sensitive to what is happening, I won’t be surprised if sooner than later a bill goes before parliament where they are looking at lyrical contents just like they have movies so they can control what they say.

Mr Ocansey told TV3's Mark Tetteh that such obscene lyrics and songs are not good for the public, and condemned the playing of such songs on our airwaves.

Mr Ocansey urging authorities to take the necessary steps to ensure that the music industry heads in the right direction.

“It’s important that the industry self-regulate. That’s why the Union issued a statement where we said that musicians should be very conscious of their lyrical content and the media stations should also watch the songs they play and the videos they show on the screens, he said.

He said in Jamaica when profanity in their music got to a certain level, their parliament took a decision and passed a legislation which regulates or seeks to regulate their lyrical content.

“They still have obscene lyrics but at least on radio and on TV its controlled but I want to believe that if push comes to shove, parliament in Ghana can pass a law and say that look, this is what we want in the industry," he said.

He said: "It is high time Ghanaians took a second look at the contents of our songs because the rising incidence is alarming and I would also like to plead with the media to desist from broadcasting songs with obscene lyrics”.