Good news for creative artistes – piracy laws to be enforced 

Osibisa flies in for final show

Accra (Greater Accra) 26 April ’99

 Mr Ebo Hawkson, deputy chairman of the National Commission on Culture (NCC), on Sunday reiterated that it is an offence to sell musical cassettes without banderole.

The commission will ensure the enforcement of the copyright law to protect the works of musicians in the country, he said.

Mr Hawkson, who was speaking in Accra at a meeting with the Cassette Sellers Association (CSA), said: "The NCC will use every legitimate means to enforce the anti-piracy law to motivate musicians to produce more music and ensure that they also benefit from their labour".

The meeting, which aimed at streamlining the music industry, was organised by the NCC.

The commission will continue to collaborate with the police to conduct anti-piracy investigations, as well as regular and unannounced raids at music shops to flush out suspected pirates, Mr Hawkson said.

"No ... pirates will be allowed to jeopardise the efforts of genuine musicians who want to make positive contributions through their music towards national development".

Apart from the banderole being a source of income for both musicians and the government, it is also the only means, at the moment, to readily differentiate genuine cassettes and CDs from pirated ones.

Mr Joe Mensah, member of the Oversight Committee of COSGA, said at the moment about 40 percent of Ghanaian music is pirated, saying this is preventing foreign investors who are interested in the music industry from investing in it.

Accra (Greater Accra) 26 April ’99

 Members of the London-based Osibisa band arrived in the country this morning to perform a musical concert dubbed, "Final Homecoming."

It will be the final performance of the internationally acclaimed Afro-rock

band as a group after which most of them will go solo.

The show, which is in collaboration with the National Commission on Culture, will be performed at the National Theatre, Accra and Kumasi Sports stadia.

The last time the group perform in Ghana was about eight years ago.

Speaking to newsmen on arrival, Teddy Osei, Leader of the group said they were happy to be home. He said the performance is to let young musicians ''see what Osibisa is made of'' and what has kept them together for 30 years.

He advised budding musicians not to rush into the industry because of monetary gains but to take their time to prepare well before getting on the scene.

The show is expected to include Kiki Gyan, the youngest member, who is currently undergoing rehabilitation in Ghana for drug abuse.

Other members for the show are Solomon Amarteifio, Kofi Ayivor, Mac Tontoh, Dekoto Mandengua and Wendel Richardson.

Performing with the group will be Bessa Simons, another London-based Ghanaian keyboard player and singer.

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