Frequency Board urged to sanction Peace FM

Accra (Greater Accra), 19^th August 99

 A leading Ghanaian music producer has urged the Ghana Frequency Board to sanction Peace FM radio for flouting broadcasting ethics by playing music uninterrupted to encourage free dubbing and piracy.

Mr Faisal Helwani, who is also spokesman for the Copyright Protection Committee and a member of the Oversight Committee of the Copyright Society of Ghana (COSGA) said through free dubbing and piracy, musicians are deprived of their royalties due to low sales.

Mr Helwani told newsmen that two committees COSGA have received several complaints from musicians whose works are being aired on Peace FM.

He said a team led by him called on Peace FM management headed by the owner, Mr Osei Kwame, who himself is a music distributor, to talk things over with him.

"I led a team to the station several times to talk things over with Mr Osei Kwame. We congratulated him first for opening the station to promote sales but also cautioned him about the dangers of playing uninterrupted music. After two months, the practice still continues, thus depriving sales, even though the test period of the station is over."

Mr Helwani accused Mr Osei Kwame of a personal agenda to destroy his competitors and musicians whose works he does not distribute, adding that because of this situation, he has instructed his lawyers to warn the station not to play any music by Bibini Music Productions.

He listed these as Onipa Nua, Root of Hilife, Kofi Sammy, Akompi, Koo Nimo, Kobina Okai, Yasmeen, All For You, Hedzoleh Sounds and Bomaa Paradise Choir.

The others are Uhuru Hilife Classics, Ahoma Nsia, Edikanfo Band, Basabasa Sounds, Bunzu Sounds, Reggae West Africa and Hilife All Stars.

"If the station falls in track, it will be given the consent to play these music, which is the right thing to do but if it fails to comply with this warning, legal action will be taken," he added.

GRi…/