A combined team of Police personnel and members of the anti-piracy task force of the Ghana Association of Phonographic Industries (GAPI) and Musicians Association of Ghana (MUSIGA) has arrested 50 people suspected to be behind pirated musical works in the country.

The suspects were arrested from their hideouts at Bantama, Asafo, Koofrom and Atonsu, all in Kumasi.

The team seized empty and pirated audio compact discs, video compact discs (VCDs), CD bags, flat screen computers and accessories, television sets, equalizers and amplifiers and recording systems. The seized items were valued at over ¢800 million.

Seized pirated works from music shops and drinking spots included the compilations of Ofori Amponsah, Esther Smith, Diana Asamoah, Isaiah Kwadwo Ampong, Tic Tac, Daddy Lumba, Kojo Antwi, among others.

Briefing the press after the operation, John Mensah Sarpong, President of GAPI, said the activities of music pirates had brought untold hardships upon musicians and music producers, who had lost heavy investments through such illegal activities.

The activities of pirates, he pointed out, if not checked, could kill creativity in the music industry “as the pirates are living on the sweat and toil of musicians and music producers”.

The suspects, according to him, would be screened and those found culpable would be prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others.

“The work of music pirates in producing duplicates is further exacerbated by the fact that they distribute such pirated copies clandestinely across the country and abroad and thus evade honouring tax obligations,” he added.

Mr. Sarpong warned that owners of entertainment joints and drinking spots should desist from using pirated musical works and rather purchase original copies of music produced from authentic sources.

He said the exercise would be sustained until the activities of pirates were nipped in the bud.

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