The North American representative of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Felix Sarpong, yesterday disclosed that his outfit was working tirelessly to provide training, capacity building and engage in education and sensitization activities to upgrade the skills of Ghanaian musicians.

He told BEATWAVES that he would use his position to chart a new path to develop musicians and other collaborators to send Ghanaian music to the international market.

Felix Sarpong, who is also the CEO of Victory Entertainment International, was of the view that since the music industry had a great future, a potential that could contribute immensely toward the socio-economic development of the country, there was the need for all the players to come together and work as a team to build a vibrant music industry in Ghana.

He noted that the current state of the music industry required the harnessing of the skills and knowledge of all the industry players to take Ghanaian music to a desired level.

BEATWAVES gathered that following his decision to assist MUSIGA, Felix Sarpong aka Phil Black, who manages three artistes including Ded Buddy now Qweci, has so far held series of meetings with some international music firms who have declared their readiness to support the music industry in Ghana.

Outlining some of his plans for the Ghanaian music industry, Phil Black, currently in the country on a working visit, noted that he had already arranged with some stakeholders and management outfits in the states who would help organize seminars and workshops to upgrade the talent and musical skills of the industry’s members.

He explained that some of the many other ways by which he could help musicians and composers included workshops, seminars, among others to upgrade the skills of Ghanaian musicians, as well as build bridges between the Ghanaian music industry and that of America.

Phil Black, a cultural ambassador for Bronx Museum disclosed that his duty was to help promote African culture through music, adding that he would liaise with MUSIGA to secure gigs for members in the Diaspora.

He hinted that recently, the Bronx Museum director visited the country and held a meeting with the president of MUSIGA, Bice Osei Kuffour aka Obour, on how best Ghanaian music could be promoted on the international music scene.

Phil Black revealed that he was currently working on a project to create avenues for Ghanaian musicians to work on collaborations with their colleagues in the States, adding that plans were also far advanced to create avenues for Ghanaian music icons to have recording deals with some of the international music icons.

He further disclosed that Ghanaian American-born music producer, Supa Sam, who has worked with international stars like Puff Diddy and Mase, has pledged to assist Ghanaian musicians to develop their talents. “I am ready to assist Ghanaian musicians and the music industry to meet the challenges ahead,” he added.

The director of communications at MUSIGA, Nana Osei Darkwa, told BEATWAVES in an interview that Phil Black was an industry person with a good track record in the music scene and had worked with a number of American-based Ghanaian musicians.

Phil Black’s visit to Ghana was to study the trend of the Ghanaian music industry and also offer solutions to some of the problems confronting the industry.