Accra, March 22, GNA - The Ministry for Trade and Industry is to creat= e a platform for all stakeholders in the music industry to discuss challenges and the future of the industry.

Ms Hannah Tetteh, the Sector Minister, said stakeholders in the industry should not only seek assistance from the Government but initiate measures to address challenges facing the industry.

She was addressing a forum by Charter House Events and the World Bank, organisers, and MTN, sponsors, of the Ghana Music Awards in Accra on Tuesday. Ms Tetteh pointed out that the Ministries of Information, Chieftaincy and Culture should be the best collaborators for the music industry unless it focused on trade to involve Ministry of Trade and Industry. She urged the organisers to use constructive measures and initiate a five-year development plan to boost the industry.

Mr James Agyenim-Boateng, Deputy Minister of Tourism, speaking on the topic; 93Role of the State in the Music Industry," said Ghana was the third highest recipient of tourists in West Africa and the music industry should use this potential for development.

He noted that in the quest of stakeholders in the industry to make Ghana a tourism destination through music, it was regrettable that some music videos portrayed womanhood in a derogatory manner. Mr Agyenim-Boateng challenged musicians and music producers to expand the industry through creation of jobs for growth and development and intensify the fight against piracy, a disincentive to the growth of the music industry.

Mr Kabral Blay Amihere, Chairman of National Media Commission, said th= e forum was an opportunity to pay tribute to musicians in Ghana and the media's role to promote the industry which required unity. He urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration to initiate programmes that would engage musicians to perform abroad as the country's ambassadors.

Mrs Theresa Ayoade, Chief Executive Officer of Charter House Events, said the industry was to promote culture and tourism, which was an important role.

She said Charter House Events and the World Bank had been the major organisers of Ghana Music Awards and had sustained interest in the industry for the past 12 years and that World Bank had assisted in solving the challenges facing the industry.

Mrs Diana Hopeson, President of Musicians Association of Ghana (MUSIGA), said it MUSIGA was established to strengthen institutions in the music industry, to showcase their professionalism and promote culture of th= e people. She appealed to the government for assistance in the fight against piracy in the industry.