Music of Wednesday, 26 July 2006

Source: ghanamusic.com

Kumasi Based Musician Takes Sidiku Buari On

A Kumasi based veteran musician, Osenkafo Kwesi Anin, alias 'Nyamebeba' of Israel Akwantu fame, has registered his sentiment about the manner in which the administration of the Musicians Association of Ghana (MUSIGA) has been thrown into the gutter, thereby making some non-performing personnel of the outfit have a field-day in plundering the resources to the disadvantage of the qualified and registered members.

Osenkafo Anin who was at the P&P office in Kumasi to expose what he termed as 'Deals in MUSIGA', pointed fingers at the National President of MUSIGA, Alhaji Sidiku Buari.

He said that due to that gentleman's mal-administration, many musicians of the Association, have lost their royalties, while others were underpaid. He disclosed that since 1980 he has produced 16 LPs which are still receiving massive airplay, at bars and other places nation-wide.

However, royalties he enjoys from his works is nothing to write home about. He also alleged though he was supposed to receive ? 1.5 million to ? 3 million monthly according to his own estimation at the relevant sectors, nothing of that sort is happening.

A Kumasi based veteran musician, Osenkafo Kwesi Anin, alias 'Nyamebeba' of Israel Akwantu fame, has registered his sentiment about the manner in which the administration of the Musicians Association of Ghana (MUSIGA) has been thrown into the gutter, thereby making some non-performing personnel of the outfit have a field-day in plundering the resources to the disadvantage of the qualified and registered members.

Osenkafo Anin who was at the P&P office in Kumasi to expose what he termed as 'Deals in MUSIGA', pointed fingers at the National President of MUSIGA, Alhaji Sidiku Buari.

He said that due to that gentleman's mal-administration, many musicians of the Association, have lost their royalties, while others were underpaid. He disclosed that since 1980 he has produced 16 LPs which are still receiving massive airplay, at bars and other places nation-wide.

However, royalties he enjoys from his works is nothing to write home about. He also alleged though he was supposed to receive ? 1.5 million to ? 3 million monthly according to his own estimation at the relevant sectors, nothing of that sort is happening.

Osenkafo hinted that in 2004, the World Bank made available a substantial grant to some West African Musicians Associations including MUSIGA for disbursement to their members to advance and improve their profession. But the grant, he alleged, MUSIGA in particular disbursed in a bias way.

In answer to a question, the musician indicted that he was supposed to benefit from the grant but the top shots of MUSIGA have since been playing ostrich over the money. He appealed to Alhaji Sidiku Buari, "As a matter of urgency; please release my portion of the grant, else I shall advise myself".

Osenkafo added that other colleagues whose grants have been withheld are ready to embark on a showdown to defend their rights if MUSIGA failed to the right thing.

An enquiry at the Ashanti Regional branch of the Association saw officials tight-lipped. They could not confirm or deny Osenkafo's allegations. Officers at the Association's headquarters in Accra could not be reached for their defence when P&P went there to solicit answers.