How Music Producers Exploit Young Ghanaian Ladies! They Use Them For Music Videos & Dump Them Without Paying Them.

For your eyes only
I saw this letter which I believe is interesting and contains information which is important. It is addressed to the Honourable Minister of Women and Children's Affairs. Read it below …

Ghana Youth Movement GYM P.O. Box 12241 Accra North Email: [email protected]

The Hon Minister For Womens and Children Affairs Accra.

31st August 2010
Dear Madam,
LADY PAID GH12 FOR FEATURING IN A HOT MUSIC VIDEO IN WHICH SHE APPEARS ALMOST NAKED, AFTER BEING PROMISED GH 600 BY THE PRODUCER. THIS SHOULD STOP IMMEDIATELY

On Saturday 28th of August, 2010, a 24 year old lady approached the executives of the Ghana Youth Movement to tell her sad story and plead for help in her ordeal. About four months ago she met a guy who introduced himself as a big time producer of top music videos in the country and asked her if she would want to be in one. After other appointments with him and with a promise of paying her GH 600, she accepted the offer. After shooting the video in which she posed almost naked, she was given GH12 for transport home with the promise that she will be called back for her payment. Four months on, and she has not been paid after several efforts by her to claim what she is due from the producer even though she has seen the video being shown on television.

Upon a research done by GYM, this is just a tip of the iceberg. Many of these ladies who are used in these videos are paid peanuts or not paid at all by these producers. The enthusiasm of being seen in a popular music video or becoming popular do not even let them think about the financial benefit they should get from these acts. Acting is a profession in which many of these women can have full and part time jobs. However, if care is not taken they will always be exploited by these producers for their own benefit. Music is a profession, and all that goes with it makes it better for entertainment. Without the Music videos, most of these songs wouldn't have got the market that they are getting and so should pay those that makes it possible their due.

We have giving the producer two weeks to pay the young lady and also to take the Video from being shown on TV until the matter is settled. GYM will pursue this matter in court should the producer fails to pay her within the two weeks period. We have also decided to monitor the television stations, and in each time that video is shown, it will attract additional income to the lady.

We are therefore pleading to your office Hon Minister, to intervene on behalf of these women who are being seriously exploited by these so called producers to pose almost nude in videos and pay them peanuts. We should not always use economic reasons to be the bases of our woes every time we find ourselves in these situations.

Our advice to our ladies is that, please if somebody invite you to take part in any Music Video, you have to sign a written contract with the producer or whoever is in charge of what is due you before you do whatever you are supposed to do. It will be much wiser if half of the payment is done before you shoot and the rest after shooting.

Your body is worth more than this and don't make yourself so cheap because of economic reasons.

We hope you will take steps to meet all the music producers in the country to put this problem before hand and to take steps to correct them and not to exploit these young ladies because of ignorance.

Thank you so much for your cooperation and understanding.

Yours sincerely
NANA PREMPEH AGYEMANG
KWABENA TANDOH
CC: MUSIGA