Confusion In Musicians Association Rages On

Accra, (Greater Accra) 12 Nov.,

The Association of Recording Industry of Ghana (ARIGH) today said it remains in office and that the alleged take-over by an interim management committee chaired by Mr. Faisal Helwani is illegal and unethical. Mr. Chris T. K. Ankrah, General Secretary, told a press conference in Accra that what bothers it is the ''burglary'' that took place in its offices last week. He asked the ''renegade group to withdraw their letter of dismissal, apologize and allow it access to ARIGH offices and we hold fresh elections if the entire membership wants it that way''. On the alleged ARIGH and Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) cassette scandal, Mr. Ankrah said they asked Nulec company to take care of the importation of the cassettes because members of the two bodies agreed to the deal and that the offer was economical. ''We applied for a waiver and had it; that is true, but we never raked in any illegal profits for ourselves. All members who did business with Nulec would testify to the fact that they benefited from the deal. ''Where blanks are imported in a form that will be used by bona fide music producers for their own works, no levy is charged''. Mr. Ankrah said ARIGH ordered the ''glass type'' of blank audio cassettes which could only be used for industrial or dubbing purposes and not for re-sale to the public. Commenting on the subventions given to ARIGH by the International Federation of Phonographic Industries (IFPI), he said proper records on the disbursement of the grants are available for all to read. ''The office they used for their press conference, with its fittings, furniture and office equipment and staff are evidence of how we used some of the money.'' Mr. Ankrah challenged Mr. Helwani to account for his stewardship under the defunct Phonographic Producers Society. ''He would not have a good story to tell ... I have personal stakes in the Industry that is why we did not resort to violence as they did.''