Accra, July 18, GNA- The Ministry of Information has identified inadequate infrastructure in terms of structures and competitive recording and production facilities, as one of the major constraints for quality music production in the country. In addition, persistence pirating of music productions had also resulted in low incomes of producers and musicians, contributing to the reduction in the tax revenue of music industry in the country.

Nana Akomea, Minster of Information said this at the opening of the Accra Sounds and Audiovisual limited, a private enterprise, on Friday. He said though the music industry plays a major role in enhancing the socio-economic and cultural status of the country, its performance had not been up to standard. The company, which is situated at the North Kaneshie in Accra, is expected to add to the effort of government to improve the music industry in Ghana. It is expected that the company would provide quality and reliable services to musicians and also ensure a guard against pirating.

Nana Akomea said the establishment of the company was a great addition to Ghana's strides to achieving the Golden Age of Business, and would ensure that individuals who attempt to defeat the idea would be penalised. He stated that the proposed copyright bill that was currently receiving parliamentary consideration would soon be passed into law to guard against pirating and all other forms of copyright abuses. "The NPP government, is leaving no stone unturned, to provide the necessary environment for the copyright sector to strive", he said. Nana Akomea advised the various bodies, which constitute the National Anti-piracy committee to sensitise their various institutions to see the anti-piracy campaign as an essential national issue that provides significant returns to the investor as well as revenue for national development.

He also appealed to young musicians to be circumspect in their choice of lyrics, "since music plays a major role in moulding or influencing society". He said it was unfortunate that some of the songs featured by some radio and television stations contain so much profane and were not meeting the cultural expectations of the country. He urged the company to encourage the production of Ghanaian folklores to blend with the current western style of music compositions. Mr. Malik Premji, Managing Director of the company, called on stakeholders to collaborate with each other to ensure that the image of the music industry is raised high in Ghana. He said the management and board of the company was grateful for the support of government, ministries and agencies that provided it with direction and guidance to ensure its establishment. He said the company was aimed at assembling quality raw materials to meet the increasing demands of the music market at both national and international levels.