RAS CALEB APPIAH-LEVI launches MUSIGA presidential bid on May 21

Veteran roots reggae artist, broadcaster, songwriter and music composer, RAS CALEB APPIAH-LEVI  will set the Kumasi Cultural Center agog on May 21, to officially launch his manifesto for MUSIGA presidential contest which comes off on June 26, this year.

The current Greater Accra Regional Chairman of MUSIGA says he has performed creditably at the regional level where it was now time that he assumes the national presidency of MUSIGA to put the Ghanaian music industry on the global stage where for the first time musical artist would enjoy the full fruit of their labour.

With his motto: Vibrancy -Taking Ghanaian Musicians Global, Ras  also known as Charlie Buck-Levi  originally Emmanuel Obiri Kwasi Appiah, says his vision and mission is to seek for the welfare of musicians and upgrade the functions of the Union to enhance all core activities for the  membership.

Captured in the  slogan:  “AS IT IS”, Ras, who describes himself as a PANAFRICANIST to the core, said when given the nod as MUSIGA President,  his utmost duty would be to work together with    national and regional executives to coordinate and mobilise members and musicians in all the regions and  districts of the country to enhance their welfare.

One of his priority projects when voted as the MUSIGA President is  acquiring lands from Government and Chiefs in the regions for the purpose of building a national, regional and district office secretariats, and performance theatres in partnership with local and international investors.

The facilities, he said would consist of live rehearsals and recording studios, online radio and television stations, newspaper and magazine publishing, classrooms for music academies among others, also the construction of MUSIGA executives’ residence and regional guests houses.

“In furtherance of our agenda, MUSIGA National will  henceforth on our assumption in office be responsible for the payment of rents and furnishing of all MUSIGA Regional Branches and Chapters administrative assistants and office managers”,  Ras Caleb Appia-Levi stated.

Adding that MUSIGA Regional Branches and Chapters would have fifty percent commission based on amount collected by their regions and districts being membership registration fees paid by musicians registered in their locations.

The aspiring president  who became a member of MUSIGA in June 1982, said he is a former member of Alpha Blondy and Solar Systems who together with the artiste and band, has toured 77 countries globally, inclusive Ghana said he had all the international experience and expertise as international artiste to get MUSIGA on the world map  as far as the entertainment industry was concern.

“As we know, the Music Industry internationally is a multi-billion dollar business, and as the President for the Union, the first and foremost thing I and my executives will have to do is to set up a “MUSIGA Progressive Team (MUPROT)”, which will comprise of all the National and Regional Executives and some core members who will work together as a body to acquire vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and office equipment for MUSIGA national, regional branches and district chapters secretariats’ operations and membership-drive outreach activities.

 Speaking to the TIMES Weekend in Accra on Tuesday, the veteran roots reggae artiste said he initiate and organise a “GHANA MUSIC MONTH” made up of 30-days programme  of activities in all the 16  regions,  powered by MUSIGA and partners which would  showcase our musicians of various genres in the regions to enable potential executive producers, record labels and tour agents to poach them for recording deals and global tours.

“We will embark on to meet with musicians in the genres of Highlife, Hiplife, Rap, Gospel, Traditional and Cultural Troupes, Reggae-Dancehall, Nyabinghi- Rocksteady-Ska, Choirs, Jazz, R&B, Orchestras, and live bands (Civillian, Police, Prisons, Army, Immigration, Customs, Church, etc. in all the regions of Ghana”, he stated.

 Stressing, ‘We will meet with Radio and TV Presenters, Disc Jockeys, Spinners, Broadcasters, Print and Electronic Media Practitioners, Record Label Representatives globally), Artistes’ Managers, Technical Producers and Executive Producers, Studio Owners and Managers, Manufacturers of Musical Instruments (globally), Audio CD & DVD Replication Companies (globally), Musical Instruments Dealers and Repairers’.

“We will interact with event organisers and producers, church leaders, performance venues owners, management of hotels, nite clubs, and restaurants; the leadership of transport unions and associations among others”, Ras said.

Additionally, we will have vigorous interaction with the Copyright Office of Ghana, GHAMRO, and Parliament of Ghana on issues pertaining to Copyright and Royalties, engage the Government of Ghana on issues of support for the Union to also initiate a MUSIGA Regional Farms which would produce stuff  to be sold to support the national and regional secretariats.

The farm would be manned by professional farmers in the stead of musicians under a Management team.

His administration will register a “CORPORATE MUSIGA COMPANY LIMITED (CMCL) to be operated as a commercial entity to generate funds for the Union to support members in varied ways, he concluded.

By Norman Cooper