Kojo Antwi calls for a musicians board

Accra (Greater Accra), 12 Feb '99 --

Ace-musician Kojo Antwi, yesterday suggested the setting up a board that will embrace different groups to manage the affairs of the music industry. "This will enhance the growth of the music industry which is being crippled by personal interests," he said in his submission to the committee probing irregularities in the Musician Union of Ghana (MUSIGA). He said the union has problems "because of lack of definite rules and regulations to guide the industry'' and without the board, the union will continue to wallow in problems. Mr Antwi explained that through the board, there will be different groups like pioneers, active musicians, up-and-coming musicians, amateurs, promoters and managers to show the different stages in the music industry. ''It is the duty of the union to differentiate between a comedian and a musician. Being a musician means more than just holding the instruments, which could be described as a state of mind''. Mr Antwi called for intensive education of musicians, managers, producers and promoters since most of them do not take time to explore the inner talents of musicians. He said some promoters are businessmen, who do not have any background in music and called on the executives of the union to advise members not to deal with any promoter, who lowers their image, especially when they are to travel outside the country. Mr Joel Ackah, also an accomplished musician said most bandsmen run away when they travel outside Ghana because their managers do not take good care of them adding that it is important for musicians and bandsmen to have identity cards. Mr Ackah appealed to the government to ensure that awards presented to musicians are valuable to encourage others and called for the postponement of the National Congress of MUSIGA scheduled for today, Friday, 12 February because members had not been given enough notice. Barima Adanse-Akyem Omane, chairman of the committee, expressed concern about the desire of some musicians to form groups within the union. ''This fragmentation will not solve the problems facing the union. Rather, MUSIGA needs a united front to fight its problems.''