Music of Saturday, 3 November 2007

Source: ghanamusic.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">ghanamusic.com

Sidiku Buari speaks

Alhaji Sidiku BuariThe controversy over the eligibility of Mr. Gyedu Blay Ambolley to vie for the presidency of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) is continuing, with Alhaji Sidiku Buari giving a fait accompli that “the man is constitutionally disqualified.”


As far as the records available at MUSIGA go, the outgoing President of the union states in a reaction to the ongoing controversy that “Mr. Gyedu Blay Ambolley has not paid his membership dues since 1986 and is by our constitution automatically disqualified from contesting the elections.”


Mr. Ambolley, according to Sidiku Buari, abandoned the activities of the union for many years and “if he wants to come back into full membership and to lead the union which is now flourishing, all he has to do is pay up his dues to put himself in good standing.”


To ensure fairness in the polls of the musicians, Sidiku explained that a vetting committee was set up to vet the aspirants for the various positions.


The committee, he said, was rubbished by Ambolley as made up of disc jockeys from radio stations in a contemptuous manner.

Ambolley, he went on, is unable to prove that he was vice president of the union from 1979 – 1988.


The records at the union, he said, showed that the man was 3rd vice president for the period 1979-1982 “when Mr. Daniel Amponsah, alias Koo Nimo was president. After 1982, Mr. Gyedu Blay Ambolley’s name does not reflect as holding any national position.”


Mr. Sidiku Buari expressed amazement at what according to him was the publication of lies against him which can be injurious to the interest of MUSIGA.


“Instead of assisting the committee to sort out the matter in his own interest, he rushes to your paper to spew lies and unfounded allegations at me,” he stated.


He called the bluff of his colleague by stating that he had nothing to hide as president of MUSIGA, adding “my hands are clean and will contest him and his ilk in any court of law should he continue with his acrobatics.


I am a self-made man who does not make my living through the presidency of MUSIGA.”


Under his presidency, he noted, the union fought to secure the legal framework to enable musicians practice their profession and derive the greatest economic benefit.


He challenged Ambolley to tell Ghanaians what he was able to achieve when he run the union as 3rd vice president.