NPP, NDC Struggle For Sidney & Seth Frimpong

The two major political parties in the country, New Patriotic Party (NPP), and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), are feverishly working behind the scene to claim ?unofficial ownership rights? of two popular songs, ?Me Huri So? and ?Scent Nooo,? as their elizir of hope for Election 2004 campaign.

Realising the magic that Cindy Thompson?s ?Awurade Kasa? did for the NPP during the 2000 election, both parties have started wooing the composer of ?Afi Weyi Ye Ma Afi? (This year is Mine) song, to acquire the right and use of the song in their campaigns.

Seth Frimpong the composer of the ?Afi Weyi Ye Ma Afi? song told Daily Guide in an interview that he is not going to give out his song to any of the political parties on a silver platter. He confirmed that some gurus in NPP and NDC have called him, on his phone, and requested that he comes for a meeting with them. He stated that he is going to critically study the offer by the two giants, and get the best financial consideration for his creative work.

Seth Frimpong, who sounded elated on the phone during the interview, observed that the song is a gift from God, would therefore, not sell it cheaply to any political party.

He indicated that the two major football clubs, Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko, have also expressed interest in buying the copyright for the song.

He explained that he is going to look at all those offers too, and choose the best of the four.

He was, however, glad that many Ghanaians have started patronising the song, irrespective of their political affiliations.

When contacted on phone, Sidney (the ?Apuskeleke? man) also confirmed that NPP and NDC have started using his song, ?Scent Nooo,? for campaign purposes.

He, however, remarked that he is not bothered, but will ask the two parties to pay royalties if they start using it for adverts.

Generally, he was elated about the usage of his song for political campaign. Sidney?s song, ?Scent Nooo? according to him, was composed to remind the public irrespective of one?s status in society to imbibe the habit of observing cleanliness and good sanitary conduct.

The NPP, during its recent congress in Cape Coast, used the song to tell Ghanaians that President Kufuor?s Government, has spread everywhere. A picture calendar of the German Chancellor?s visit to Ghana, a fortnight ago, is already on the streets of Accra with President Kufuor and the German Chancellor?s pictures on it and bold inscription at the top of the calendar which reads ??Kufuor Scent Nooo?, meaning Kufuor?s scent has spread everywhere.

According to the hawkers, the calendar is selling faster than any other ones they had sold in recent times. They attributed this rapid sale of the calendar to the bold inscription, which says, Kufuor Scent Nooo.

The President of Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Alhaji Sidiku Buari, told Daily Guide that MUSIGA is non-partisan, and would, therefore, not push for royalties from any political party. He contended that MUSIGA would rather concern itself with preaching of peace in the entire country during, before and after the general elections.

The MUSIGA president advocate that the fight for royalties for political songs is the business of the individual musician.