FEBRUARY 7, 2012:
Scratch Studios has pledged its support to the Ghana music industry by setting up a subsidiary department for the popular hip-life genre of music which is widely accepted in the country.
The CEO of Scratch Studios, Kofi Amoakuhene, made this clear at the offices of the studio in East Legon, Accra, yesterday, where he stated that there would be reductions in the rates of studio time, use of instruments and professional voice training for members of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA).
The studio also offered to work with up and coming artistes to produce their demos, thereby giving them the professional touch, outlook and also the opportunity to put their music out, thereby showcasing their talents.
Amoakuhene also stated that the Syncos music was synonymous with Scratch as soul music was to Motown records, as such talented artistes would also be required to feature on the syncos compilation, therefore giving an international platform to the artistes.
Performing artistes who are interested in this bid should register at the offices of Scratch Studios at 117 Freetown Avenue, adjacent the guest hotel in East Legon, Accra.
SOURCE: GHANAWEB
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/artikel.php?ID=229453
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
MUSIGA Pleads With The Media Not To Publish Photos of Singer Who Exposed Herself On Stage
The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) has taken notice of media reports concerning a Ghanaian female musician whose dressing mistakenly led to some private parts of her body been captured by a photo journalist during a recent Performance.
Our investigations have revealed that whereas there is some proof to the story, this was due to an unfortunate costume mishap. Musiga is highly concerned that this issue has gone too far with the media taking great interest in it. The newspaper which broke the story has indicated to publish the said photograph of the musician in an uncensored manner on its front pages on January 6th 2012.
In as much as MUSIGA respects the freedoms of the media and appreciate its contribution to the growth of the music industry, the Union would want to intervene in this instance and call for a cease fire on this issue.
“Inappropriate dressing” among some Ghanaian Musicians has become a major source of concern not only to the general Ghanaian populace but to members of the Union and steps are being taken by the new administration to educate its members on paying heed to cultural sensitivities in their public appearance and pronouncements.
The new MUSIGA under the leadership of President Obour would be rolling out programs through workshops and seminars to educate its members on several issues including artiste appearance and dressing.
Publishing the private parts of any Ghanaian woman would to a large extent not only be an embarrassment to the artiste in question but to womanhood in general. It can also traumatize and destroy the career of an up and coming Ghanaian superstar and we believe that, it is not the motive of the media to destroy our stars but has been a major partner in building up stars on the contrary.
We live in a part of the world where women empowerment is still an issue and fewer women have the courage to venture into certain careers, including music.
MUSIGA, in the interest of protecting its members and female members most especially, is of the opinion that the media would be doing more harm than good to society if it goes ahead to publish the said photographs of the female musician in question.
Once again, MUSIGA expresses gratitude to the media for its support over the years and we look forward to a more fruitful relationship in 2012 and beyond.
Source: Peace FM
http://showbiz.peacefmonline.com/news/201201/87341.php
Our investigations have revealed that whereas there is some proof to the story, this was due to an unfortunate costume mishap. Musiga is highly concerned that this issue has gone too far with the media taking great interest in it. The newspaper which broke the story has indicated to publish the said photograph of the musician in an uncensored manner on its front pages on January 6th 2012.
In as much as MUSIGA respects the freedoms of the media and appreciate its contribution to the growth of the music industry, the Union would want to intervene in this instance and call for a cease fire on this issue.
“Inappropriate dressing” among some Ghanaian Musicians has become a major source of concern not only to the general Ghanaian populace but to members of the Union and steps are being taken by the new administration to educate its members on paying heed to cultural sensitivities in their public appearance and pronouncements.
The new MUSIGA under the leadership of President Obour would be rolling out programs through workshops and seminars to educate its members on several issues including artiste appearance and dressing.
Publishing the private parts of any Ghanaian woman would to a large extent not only be an embarrassment to the artiste in question but to womanhood in general. It can also traumatize and destroy the career of an up and coming Ghanaian superstar and we believe that, it is not the motive of the media to destroy our stars but has been a major partner in building up stars on the contrary.
We live in a part of the world where women empowerment is still an issue and fewer women have the courage to venture into certain careers, including music.
MUSIGA, in the interest of protecting its members and female members most especially, is of the opinion that the media would be doing more harm than good to society if it goes ahead to publish the said photographs of the female musician in question.
Once again, MUSIGA expresses gratitude to the media for its support over the years and we look forward to a more fruitful relationship in 2012 and beyond.
Source: Peace FM
http://showbiz.peacefmonline.com/news/201201/87341.php
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Ghanaian singer Obour joins top celebrities to fight TB at world level
Page last updated at Tuesday, December 6, 2011 16:16 PM //
Obour (extreme left) with his fellow Goodwill Ambassadors.
Ghanaian singer Bice Osei Kuffour commonly known as Obour has joined his colleague Goodwill Ambassadors for the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) ‘Stop TB Partnership’ to share his own experiences and provide input on the way forward in the fight against tuberculosis in the world.
The Ambassadors are Awad Ibrahim Awad – Sudan (North)/ TV presenter; Zaal Chikobava – Georgia/ Theatre Director; Deepak Raj Giri – Nepal/ TV movie actor; Deepa Shree Niraula – Nepal/ TV movie actress; Gerry Elsdon – South Africa/ TV presenter; Sonia Goldenberg – Perú/ Journalist; Rania Ismail – Jordan/ Actress; Obour – Ghana/ Pop singer and Behrooz Sabzwari – Pakistan/ TV movie actor.
Obuor, who composed a song dedicated to raising TB awareness in Ghana, will engage in a two-session workshop to showcase his contribution to the fight against tuberculosis. The session started December 5, 2011.
According to a statement from the Stop TB Partnership, Obuor together with the other eight Goodwill Ambassadors, “will make a short presentation of activities they have developed in their own countries.”
“In the Imagine session Goodwill Ambassadors will provide their advice on how to move the programme of the Goodwill Ambassadors forward and develop recommendations for the future strategy and for the Handbook for National Goodwill Ambassadors against tuberculosis,” the statement said.
Today December 6, 2011, the statement said, the group of celebrities will brief members of the Regional Government of Lombardy in Milan about the urgent need for continued financial support for the global fight against the disease.
Their journey will continue to Turin where they will visit a TB treatment programme – part of the Imp.Ac.T project – which is run by the NGO Gruppo Abele and seeks to increase TB and HIV testing for migrant drug users, the statement added.
The Ambassadors’ work will end December 7, 2011.
By Ekow Quandzie
MUSIGA congratulates Rocky Dawuni for CNN feat
The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) has congratulated its global ambassador, Rocky Dawuni for being named among Africa’s 10 top artistes on the global stage including the stalwarts Youssou Ndour, Asa, Knaan, Caesarian Evora, 2Face Idibia among others, by Cable News Network (CNN).
In a press statement signed by MUSIGA President, Bice ‘Obour’ Kufuor, the union believes that Rocky Dowuni’s achievement is the potential to put Ghanaian music back onto the world stage.
“We have always believed in our musical prowess as a great potential in lifting the flag of Ghana high and placing Ghana on the world map when it comes to music. It was these same qualities that CNN has seen in Rocky Dawuni that led to him being named as the Global Ambassador of the New MUSIGA.”
“MUSIGA is very proud that its global ambassador has been named among the top 10 artiste by no mean an institution than a global leader in news CNN. MUSIGA intends to ride on this high feat of its member and global ambassador to drive home the critical need for its members and indeed all Ghanaian Musicians to aspire for greater heights and eschew mediocrity. Rocky Dawuni has clearly shown the way and have proven that with hard work and professionalism, we can go places.”
The statement also said that the Musicians Union of Ghana under its new President and administration intends to work assiduously and professionally to lift the sinking image of Ghanaian music to an enviable one.
In a press statement signed by MUSIGA President, Bice ‘Obour’ Kufuor, the union believes that Rocky Dowuni’s achievement is the potential to put Ghanaian music back onto the world stage.
“We have always believed in our musical prowess as a great potential in lifting the flag of Ghana high and placing Ghana on the world map when it comes to music. It was these same qualities that CNN has seen in Rocky Dawuni that led to him being named as the Global Ambassador of the New MUSIGA.”
“MUSIGA is very proud that its global ambassador has been named among the top 10 artiste by no mean an institution than a global leader in news CNN. MUSIGA intends to ride on this high feat of its member and global ambassador to drive home the critical need for its members and indeed all Ghanaian Musicians to aspire for greater heights and eschew mediocrity. Rocky Dawuni has clearly shown the way and have proven that with hard work and professionalism, we can go places.”
The statement also said that the Musicians Union of Ghana under its new President and administration intends to work assiduously and professionally to lift the sinking image of Ghanaian music to an enviable one.
Source: Ghanaweb
Saturday, October 1, 2011
OBOUR APPOINTS MORE MEMBERS; MUSIGA RE-REGISTRATION
MUSIGA Will Re-Register Its Members –Obour
September 30th, 2011
Obour
As a result, the union would be embarking on a massive re-registering programme from October 12 at the National Theatre in Accra to re-register old members and register new members.
It is not quite clear how MUSIGA’s constitution approves of the re-registration of old members but Obour said the decision fell within the tenets of their constitution as every member, after a every year, needed to renew his/her membership.
“MUSIGA has membership of 3000, with 800 members. By the end of our tenure of office, we would have increased MUSIGA membership by 500 percent. We will be embarking on a massive re-registering programme.
“So I use this opportunity to inform everybody that on October 12 at the National Theatre, the process will start. Be you an arranger, sound engineer, programmer, chorister, bands man and anybody who has to do with music, you can come to register,” Obour said.
He made the statements at a press conference on Wednesday at MUSIGA office to announce a long list of musicians he will be working with and his four-year blue print to make life better for his fellow musicians in Ghana.
He said his administration’s main focus for the four-year mandate would be finding absolute solutions to the numerous problems of musicians, rebranding MUSIGA to be extremely attractive to investors and also ensure a culture of accountability and transparency.
He said his administration would provide free healthcare and free legal advice for its members on music-related issues. He also promised to ensure that they provided a pension scheme for members as well as encourage music education in schools.
Obour said his administration would work closely with Government to bring about policies that would inure to their benefit, emphasizing they would do the same with event organizers.
The above, he claimed, were just an overview of the broader program he planned to undertake within his four-year tenure.
He took the opportunity to name a number of musicians who are part of his administration and swore them into office.
Some of the persons sworn in included Rex Omar, chairman of business and finance committee; Ben Brako, chairman of fund raising committee; Nana Tuffour, director of highlife; Dela Hayes as national women’s organiser; Blakk Rasta as African music ambassador; Rocky Dawuni as world music ambassador; Obrafour as director of hiplife; Okyeame Kwame as public relations officer; Tic Tac as director of music relations directorate.
NORTHERN PRESENTERS UNION PRAISE OBOUR
The Northern Presenters Union (NPU) has sent a two-man delegation to pay a courtesy call on the newly elected President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Bice Osei Kuffuor known in the showbiz circles as Obour.
The visit was to officially congratulate Obour for his victory and also to pledge commitment and support for his presidency. The delegation from the North consisted of the two top presenters in the Northern Region, Gideon Kofi Adarkwah, the Events Coordinator and Drive Time Host of Diamond Fm and Alhassan Abdul Latif, Drive Time Host of Northern Star Fm and General Manager of Creative Multi Media.
“The just ended victory of Bice Osei Kuffour as the new President of MUSIGA is a victory not for him alone, but for the entire showbiz fraternity; from the composer, to the engineer, musician, promoter, the DJ, the presenter and all,” Gideon Kofi Adarkwah noted. Gideon added that the union was optimistic that Obour would perform well within the four-year period given him.
“On behalf of the Northern Presenters Union, we wish to congratulate Obour for the victory won for the youth of Ghana, and also wish him well in his quest of reviving MUSIGA with his 7 point AJUMAPA concept which we strongly believe touched the delegates hearts; hence his triumph in the 5th Quadrennial Congress.
“Before Obour joined the race, I personally had wished that MUSIGA gets a young blood to inject some urgency and innovative ideas into salvaging the union, and the persons whose names dropped on my lips were Obour, Okyeame Kwame and Obrafour.
“There were several concerns that were raised about his age but the Northern Presenters Union never relented in our effort to support him openly and letting the entire world know that the time has come for a change that will see the young take up leadership positions and distinguish themselves.
“A change that will erase the negative perception about the youth in our country; and a change that will see musicians get jobs, have their welfare taken care of, promote accountability and unity amongst members,” Gideon explained. Alhassan Abdul-Latif appealed to Obour to create a cordial relationship between the Northern musicians and their managers, since there seemed to be some misunderstanding and lack of unity among that group.
Obour, on his part, expressed gratitude to the NPU for the confidence they had in him. He said it would go a long way in strengthening and challenging him to work even harder for MUSIGA. He encouraged the NPU to go the extra mile to support MUSIGA in its quest of raising the standards of Ghanaian music and improving the status of Ghanaian musicians.
Obour promised to initiate programs like the Northern Showbiz Awards and the Northern Music Awards to create the platform for northern based artists to get the exposure to become formidable stakeholders within the Ghanaian music industry.
SOURCE: NEWSONE /GHANAWEB :http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/artikel.php?ID=220288)
The visit was to officially congratulate Obour for his victory and also to pledge commitment and support for his presidency. The delegation from the North consisted of the two top presenters in the Northern Region, Gideon Kofi Adarkwah, the Events Coordinator and Drive Time Host of Diamond Fm and Alhassan Abdul Latif, Drive Time Host of Northern Star Fm and General Manager of Creative Multi Media.
“The just ended victory of Bice Osei Kuffour as the new President of MUSIGA is a victory not for him alone, but for the entire showbiz fraternity; from the composer, to the engineer, musician, promoter, the DJ, the presenter and all,” Gideon Kofi Adarkwah noted. Gideon added that the union was optimistic that Obour would perform well within the four-year period given him.
“On behalf of the Northern Presenters Union, we wish to congratulate Obour for the victory won for the youth of Ghana, and also wish him well in his quest of reviving MUSIGA with his 7 point AJUMAPA concept which we strongly believe touched the delegates hearts; hence his triumph in the 5th Quadrennial Congress.
“Before Obour joined the race, I personally had wished that MUSIGA gets a young blood to inject some urgency and innovative ideas into salvaging the union, and the persons whose names dropped on my lips were Obour, Okyeame Kwame and Obrafour.
“There were several concerns that were raised about his age but the Northern Presenters Union never relented in our effort to support him openly and letting the entire world know that the time has come for a change that will see the young take up leadership positions and distinguish themselves.
“A change that will erase the negative perception about the youth in our country; and a change that will see musicians get jobs, have their welfare taken care of, promote accountability and unity amongst members,” Gideon explained. Alhassan Abdul-Latif appealed to Obour to create a cordial relationship between the Northern musicians and their managers, since there seemed to be some misunderstanding and lack of unity among that group.
Obour, on his part, expressed gratitude to the NPU for the confidence they had in him. He said it would go a long way in strengthening and challenging him to work even harder for MUSIGA. He encouraged the NPU to go the extra mile to support MUSIGA in its quest of raising the standards of Ghanaian music and improving the status of Ghanaian musicians.
Obour promised to initiate programs like the Northern Showbiz Awards and the Northern Music Awards to create the platform for northern based artists to get the exposure to become formidable stakeholders within the Ghanaian music industry.
SOURCE: NEWSONE /GHANAWEB :http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/artikel.php?ID=220288)
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