The Ghana Association of Phonography Industy (GAPI) has held a workshop in Accra on the theme “Advocacy for Long term Financing for Ghana Music Industy.”

Francis Mensah Twum who is the general secretary of GAPI, in his opening remarks stated that the Ghana music industry is undergoing serious challenges, especially the lack of long term financing for the production of musical works.

The workshop was organised with the aim of giving an opportunity to those involved in the music industry to air their grievances and problems affecting them.

Alhaji Sidiku Buari, who was the chairman and guest of honour, sitting in for Hon. S.K. Boafo, Minister for Chieftancy & Culture, explained that the average vocalist in Ghana cannot affort to purchase his or her own instrument. “Lack of finance has made it difficult for young musicians to purchase their instrument,” he stressed.

Alhaji Buari also said that music is one of the biggest bussines in the world, and Ghana for that matter. He added however, that the final analysis of an accountant will show that there is a difference between cash and money, and therefore artistes need money for their operations. Alhaji Buari, who is also the President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) and Vice President of International Federation of Musicians, thanked The Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) for showing interest in the project.

Piracy was also a subject addressed by Alhaji Buari. According to him, piracy is killing the industry, and in no time, there will be no more business. He pleased with government to support the industry and “put some money down for us.” He said lack of money compels musicians to do their own promotion and distribution, whiles producers also go out to borrow money to produce artistes.

Also present was Mr Ebo Hawkson, a former Deputy Chairman of National Committee on Culture and a former musician. In his speech, Mr Hawkson said it had been established that the past 10 years have shown African music being advanced at a fast rate compared to other developing countries. He said GAPI is making effort to win investors into the industry and also “to put up a case to show that the music industry is just like any other business”

Mr Hawkson expressed however, that the problemin Ghana is that there are no information kept on the music industry. He further explained that statistics from other countries such as the UK and USA prove the fact that the music and culture industries contribute a lot to the their economy. “If we were to check our GPD in respect to the culture and music industry, we would realise that we have contributed about 5%,” he stated.

According to Mr Hawkson, Ghana’s music industry was promising and had a bright future in the mid - 70s and laste 70s. “Highlife had a large audience, especially in Nigeria - because it had been popularised by musicians such as E.T. Mensah.”

He said the down turn of the national economy and phenomenon such as “kalabule”, where everything was by arrangement and connections and who you know, saw most musicians travelling to other countries. These musicians, he continued, later returned to enrich the Ghanaian industry with what they had learned while away.

Mr Hawkson added however, that it has not been all that gloomy, as there have been positive moments since 1992. Contrary to Alhaji Sidiku Buari’s idea of not mentioning a figure, Mr Hawkson stated that if the industry was given $15 million, most of the problems being faced will be solved.

Also present at the workshop was Big Ben, of Big Ben Productions, Gyedu Blay Ambulley, Reps from Atlas Multimedia, Spinners Association of Ghana, Technical engineers, etc.

In his closing remarks, Mac Tontoh, a member of the former Osibisa band, urged Ghanaians to help music artistes, adding that “without the artistes, there will be no you and without you, there will be no artistes.”

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