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Does Shatta Wale have a case against Obour?

Join me to highlight some of the achievements of the Obour-led MUSIGA administration.

MUSIGA president Obour

On Monday, November 21, Ghanaian Dancehall musician Shatta Wale took to social media platform Twitter to launch a scathing attack on the President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Bice Osei Kufuor, popularly known as Obuor.

Shatta Wale’s seemingly intransigent rant raised three major issues that he thought were the flaws of Obour his team of MUSIGA executives. According to the award-winning musician,  Obour cares less about the welfare of aged musicians; he misuses the union’s funds, and is a disappointment to the youth. He even went as far as to accuse him of being a gold digger, ultimately calling on him to resign from his post.

We all know Shatta Wale to be a brand that thrives on controversy, but do you think there was some substance to his tantrums?

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Well, MUSIGA is a union just like any other union in the country but the reason behind its ability to attract such interest and attention is because it is the umbrella group that unites all musicians in Ghana - and music is one of the nation’s biggest businesses.

One thing people get wrong all the time is the fact that they don’t know the difference between a state owned organisation and private owned organisation. MUSIGA falls under the privately owned organisation category, therefore its activities are exclusive to its members and partners. This means one has to be a member of the union to enjoy its benefits and have full access or be able to interfere in its business.

Even though the union has branches across the country, some musicians have failed to join and yet complain about the hardships musicians face in the country. They have no idea how the union runs its affairs, they don’t attend meetings or even contribute to the development of the organisation, and yet, they keep bashing its president and executives. In my assessment as a journalist working within the industry, I think MUSIGA under Obour has been good if not better than that of his predecessors. His strategic policies and long-term plans have brought nothing but progress to the union. His achievements are everywhere but some industry players swear they cannot see.

On this note, I would like to highlight some of the achievements of the Obour-led MUSIGA administration.

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Welfare Fund for Aging Musicians (AMWeF)

On Friday August 9, 2013, MUSIGA launched its flagship Welfare Fund for Aging Musicians (AMWeF) to register and organize members of MUSIGA who are 60 years and above, for a common purpose with regards to their welfare. One of its aims is to register and establish a database of musicians who have become incapacitated during their musical lives and to register all targeted beneficiaries with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Also, it assists musicians financially or in kind during severe illnesses or death as well as compiles their musical works to market them in order to generate funds for their own benefits.

Contribution to Ghana GDP

Obour has led efforts to conduct extensive and in-depth research into the music industry's financial strength as well as its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Ghana.

MUSIGA partnership with Midland Savings and Loans

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Midland Savings and Loans has made loans easily accessible to musicians through its partnership with MUSIGA. The Musicians Union of Ghana in collaboration with Midland Savings and Loans have approved hundreds of loans to musicians. Apart from that, they have sponsored the union in many other ways. Since 2014, Midland has been giving car prizes to some category winners of the Ghana Music Awards. Currently, Midland offers GHC 10,000 to winner of MUSIGA Peace Song Contest.

Ghana Music Week

Ghana Music Week, a forum for Ghanaian musicians to interact with other musicians, present their music and create new works, was launched on Tuesday February 17, 2004. Since Obour took charge of MUSIGA, he has commendably livened and expanded it, so much so that it is now observed in two international countries namely US and UK. Australia, Nigeria and China are the next countries to be added to the roster.

MUSIGA Grand Ball

The MUSIGA Grand Ball is an annual event founded by Obour. It brings together captains of industry, state officials and other leaders of society on a night of wining and dining with some of the finest musicians in the land. The event also offers huge networking opportunities to participants.

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Copyright protection

Obour played a pivotal role in improving the copyright protection issues of musicians through the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO).

MUSIGA Academy.

This is the latest initiative by Obour-led administration, launched only last weekend.

Organizers of the MUSIGA Academy based at the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI) have been tasked to develop and enhance the capacities of those in the industry to better engage partners such as business people, legal professionals and entities in the value chain to create economic opportunities that generate financial and allied resources aimed at national development.

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With all these achievements and more, do you think Shatta Wale and his colleagues have a case against Obour?

Let me have your views below.

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