Obour Sworn In

Bice Osei Kuffour aka Obour was on Thursday, September 8 sworn into office as the new Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) president.

He was sworn in by the outgoing president, Diana Hopeson, at the headquarters of the union in Accra.

Other new executives who were sworn in at the ceremony are  Kaakyire Kwame Appiah, 1st Vice President; Bessa Simons, 2nd Vice President; Deborah Freeman, General Secretary; Chizzy Wailer, Organiser; John Victor Owusu, National Welfare Officer; and Oheneba Kisi, Financial Secretary.

The ceremony, which was chaired by the CEO of Citizen Kofi, Dr. Kofi Amoah, attracted several highlife and hiplife musicians including Ben Brako, Tinny, Sydney Richie, Asem, A. B. Crentsil, Nana Kwame Ampedu, Bibi Brew, Nana Tuffour and Efya.

Movie stars such as Pascaline Edwards, Augustine Abbey, Nii Odoi Mensah and a host of others were also there to grace the occasion.

The ceremony was also witnessed by Alhaji Sidi Kubuari, a former president of MUSIGA; Kofi Asamoah, General Secretary of the Trade Union's Congress (TUC); Kofi Owusu Mensah, a representative of the Minister of Tourism and a host of other personalities.

Obour polled 64 votes to beat contenders Nana Tuffour, who had 51 votes, Gyedu Blay Ambolley, 24, and Willie Roi, 2 votes, at the August 18 elections at MUSIGA's congress in Tamale.

Gyedu Blay Ambolley and Willie Roi, who contested the MUSIGA presidency, failed to attend the ceremony though reports available indicated that they were invited.

In his speech, Obour called on all the musicians to come together and work as a team to promote the progress of the industry, adding that together the musicians could change the status quo which had reduced the industry to one of poverty, although the industry represented wealth.

He took the opportunity to thank the outgoing president and

national executives, regional chairmen, executives of the union, corporate organizations, as well as individuals who had in diverse ways supported the union. He hoped that the union would continue to enjoy their support.

The new executives were also inducted into office by Obour.

The well-attended inauguration saw Obour take up the helm of affairs of MUSIGA for a four-year term.

By George Clifford Owusu