MUSIGA calls on Communications Ministry to fast-track passage of broadcasting bill

The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) has called on the Communications Ministry to hasten its efforts to pass the Broadcasting Bill which has been in the house for some time now.

According to the Union’s president, Bice Osei Kuffour (Obour), the passage of the bill will address some issues concerning airplay of local music and movies as part of promoting the country’s culture.

He referred to a document submitted by the Film Producers Association of Ghana (FIPAG) and the Ghana Actors Guild (GAG) in September last year which highlighted issues of concern to the three organisations.

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The issues include conditions such as payments of user fees to GHAMRO or ARSOG for royalties before the renewal of registrations for broadcasting operators; the definition of local content used by broadcasters and the amount of local content for broadcast which the proposal suggests should be 70% local content and 30% foreign.

The document also makes recommendations on foreign content for broadcast and a clearly demarcated family belt for broadcasters during which all content to be broadcast should be Ghanaian.

Other issues include the use of log books by broadcasting stations to capture what they play or screen as well as the need for clearly established professional guidelines for broadcasters among others.

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“The issue of foreign versus local content on our airwaves is of great concern to us as a Union and we believe it’s in our national interest to regulate the amount of local versus foreign content we play or screen on air,” Obour noted.

The issue of foreign and local content on Ghanaian airwaves has arisen again following the Zylofon Media launch in Nigeria when pundits felt local musicians were not well received.

Some entertainment critics believe the situation is due to regulations in Nigeria that control the amount of foreign music played on their airwaves.

However, airwaves are unregulated allowing for a higher volume of Nigerian music being played as compared to the number of Ghanaian music played in Nigeria.

The Union also believes Ghanaian artistes can also employ creative means such as collaborations and targeted marketing to penetrate the Nigerian and other African markets.