Musicians fall for Nana Addo

A group of top Ghanaian musicians have openly declared their support for Nana Akufo-Addo, New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate for this year’s general elections.

The artistes fell for Nana Addo when they realized that the NPP presidential candidate had good plans for the showbiz industry, in view of a get-together he organized for them.

The meeting attracted over 500 players in the entertainment industry from all parts of the country, all of who pledged to support Nana in his campaign to win the elections this year.

The musicians observed that when Nana Addo was the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, he worked closely with all stakeholders in the entertainment industry as well as the copyright administration which was under his outfit.

During his tenure of office, Nana held a series of meetings with musicians, actors and actresses and all the stakeholders in the entertainment industry to find a lasting solution to the numerous problems in the industry.

Nana Addo as well played an active role in bringing unity among stakeholders in the industry.

Based on his commitment to build vibrant music, film and cultural industries in the country, all the players in the various sectors have fallen for him.

A number of musicians who spoke with Beatwaves said they see the NPP flag bearer as the only leader who has all the sectors at heart and when voted into power, would cause the entertainment industry to witness massive progress.

According to them, in the history of Ghanaian politics Nana Addo is the only presidential candidate who has not only pledged to support the industry, but has worked closely with all stakeholders in the industry.

Based on Nana’s commitment to build a vibrant entertainment industry in Ghana, a number of top music stars have decided to campaign for him to win the election.

They demonstrated their readiness to campaign for Nana Addo at the NPP’s rally in Takoradi last Sunday where the flag bearer’s running mate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was introduced to the public; both young and old popular musicians mounted the NPP platform and campaigned for the ruling party.

They included Nana Ampadu, C.K. Mann, K.K. Fosu, Praye, Wutah, Castro and A-Plus among others.

Grace Omaboe, a renowned actress, TV presenter and singer, and onetime parliamentary candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Birim North, also mounted the NPP platform and campaigned for the party.

Prior to the rally, gospel musicians, led by Pastor Josh Laryea, had held two concerts - one in Takoradi and another in Kumasi - all in support of the party.

The general secretary of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Nana Kwame Ampadu, a popular Ghanaian highlife musician, has particularly expressed his open support for the NPP flag bearer.

Nana Ampadu told Beatwaves that he was prepared and would do everything possible for Nana Addo to become the next president of Ghana.

He said until he met Nana Addo when he was the Minister of Justice and Attorney General about five years ago, he did not know he (Nana) was of such a humble character.

“It is an open secret that between 1992 and 1998 or thereabout I campaigned for the NDC. But something dramatic happened at a meeting where both Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo Addo and I were present. Initially he exchanged pleasantries with all seated, except me.

I immediately presumed he intentionally refused to greet me because of my affiliation with the NDC,” he said.

However, according to Nana Ampadu, his perception turned out to be wrong when Nana Addo later drew closer and greeted him.

Nana Ampadu therefore pledged that he and his colleagues would give Nana Addo all the necessary support to enable him win the election and become the next president of Ghana in 2009.

Meanwhile the president of MUSIGA, Mrs Diana Hopeson has kicked against musicians getting actively involved in political campaigns, saying it was not prudent.

She indicated that much as music and politics go hand-in-hand, it was not in the interest of the country’s young democracy for musicians to make their political affiliations public, even though nothing stopped them from voting for a party of their choice.

According to her, in the history of Ghana’s democracy, MUSIGA had been organizing non-partisan peaceful election campaigns in all the regions, which was often carried live on national television.

She said this had yielded very positive results over the years, adding that MUSIGA had also recorded peace songs in various Ghanaian dialects to educate the public for a peaceful election.

A popular musician, Rex Omar once stated that politicians, through empty promises, cannot use musicians as political toys. He said politicians who make promises on improving Ghana’s cultural sector must deliver in order to gain the support of celebrities such as him.

He made the statement in response to a question on the recent get-together organised by the NPP flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo for players in the showbiz industry.

Speaking on Radio Gold’s Solid Gold Countdown recently, Rex expressed great relief that finally a politician is beginning to see the need to revamp the troubled Ghanaian cultural sector.

He said: “Nana was so sincere. I don’t want to believe he called us to his house just for the sake of politics”.

Rex has been a strong advocate for positive change in Ghana’s entertainment sector and believes that should be the bedrock of any nation’s developmental agenda.