The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) has just released a lengthy statement on the just ended maiden edition of Ghana Music Week. This move was necessitated following pressure from some section of the media and some regional executives for leadership of the union to release a comprehensive statement that covers everything about the week-long music festival. 

Read the full unedited Statement from MUSIGA below:

The Leadership of the Musicians Union of Ghana have noticed with grave appreciation the massive interest expressed by the general public and media about reports on the maiden edition of Ghana Music Week.

We acknowledge that communication has not been exactly good after the GMW, nonetheless, as a new event brand that relied highly on corporate sponsorship, we had to wait for full confirmation of the sponsorship as well as confirmed invoices from suppliers before an official Financial Report on GMW 2013 was finalized for general consumption.

The release of this statement, however, has become necessary at this time to clear the air on a number of issues in the media, suggesting that some members of the Union have been demanding answers, including Financial Report on Ghana Music Week; even though we are yet to complete one to be filed for anyone who may want to use it.

Ghana Music Week 2013, without a doubt, has recorded some important positives as well as numerous challenges to improve on, in the future. Below are some details worth knowing about the 2013 GMW:
The first edition of Ghana Music Week (GMW) Festival was held from March 4th to 10th, 2013 at the National Theater and Accra Sports Stadium.

Key activities of GMW were: Ghana Unity Concert (Accra Sports Stadium, March 6); Ghana Music Honours (National Theatre, March 9th); Sales & Exhibition, Stakeholder Dialogue, GMW Forum, Instruments Training Session, Azonto Dance Fiesta, Talent Discovery Nite,Comedy & Concert Party, Highlife Jam and a clean-up Exercise.

3. Ghana Music Week is a Musicians Union of Ghana (Musiga) event.

4. Yendis Media Consultancy was the official Sponsorship Agency for GMW

5. Organising Partners were The National Theater and Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts.

6. Cash Sponsors were: GGBL (Smirnoff), Airtel, RLG Communications, DKT International, Global Access Savings & Loans and Ashfoam.
Donors were Eurostar Global Limousines, British Council, Erata Hotel, Earl Beam Hotel and Hanlord Travel and Tours.

7. Events of GMW were produced by: Musiga, E-volution International, EKB Production, Positiv Production and Access Backstage

8. Artistes, visitors / attendants- Over 300 artistes and musicians, including a traditional group from each of the 10 regions, performed at the 2013 GMW, which attracted about 11,500 persons in all activities.

9. Publicity: Integrated campaign was rolled out between Jan. 15 and March 15, 2013 on: a. Radio- Joy FM, Okay FM, Peace FM, Y-FM, Radio Gold, Montie FM, Hitz FM,Rainbow Radio;

b. Television- TV3, GTV, TV Africa, Crystal TV and GH-One TV.

c. Print- Daily Graphic, Graphic Showbiz, Daily Guide, Flex Newspaper and TheMirror

d. Outdoor and marketing collaterals: billboards (25 sites), posters (10,000),flyers (16.000), banners (21 pieces). There were two major floats with 50 canvassers to promote GMW.

Summary of Unaudited Financial Report

NB: Under this part, it is worth knowing that there is a limit to which information about agreements signed with corporate sponsors can be laid in the public domain. That notwithstanding, every MUSIGA member in good membership-standing has the right as per our constitution to access any information they may need ONLY through the right channels (The General Secretary and Treasurer).

Also, considering that, the union is yet to receive over 75% of the funds from corporate sponsors; and that quite a number of suppliers are yet to be paid; a full financial report will be released as at when final settlements are made.

The core objectives of management were to establish a unique brand worth investing in the future as well as effectively manage cost to the bearest minimum.

Revenue:
Funds generated directly from Ghana Music Week totaled Ghs 528,500.00. This amount however, includes a receivable of Ghs 408,000.00 from key Sponsors.

Also, out of The Government of Ghana allocation of GHC2million, an amount GHC 540,000 was used to support the event.

Expenditure:
A sum of Ghs 1,061,971.50 was accrued as total expenditure on GMW 2013. As a prudent measure, full cost has been reported though not all expenses have been fully settled. At the time of this Statement, payable amount sums up to Ghs452,010.00.

Notes
• The Financial Statement was prepared from the information, documents and explanations made available by the Treasurer and Finance Office, Event Planningcommittee, other sub committees, Musiga National Executive Committee, Event Consultants and Marketing Agency.

• It is important to note that all and every cheque paid by sponsors in relation to GMW were directly paid into MUSIGA accounts. This makes it very easy for any member of the Union, in good standing, to access information at all times.

Conclusion:
All in all, the key objective of establishing a BRAND has been made. This being the maiden edition, the core objective wasn’t to make profit but to minimize cost as much as possible and to establish a marketably decent brand worth investing in the future.

We would like to assure all musicians, Executives of the Union and the General Public that a detail report, including accounts on the usage of the Two Million Ghana Cedis Government support, part of which was used for GMW, will be available in the Musiga Annual Report of 2013/2014.

Meanwhile, members of Musiga in good standing may always request any information, including detail financial statements of the Union, through the Treasurer or Office of the General Secretary.

The National Head office will hold a Press Conference on Wednesday 17 April, 2013 at 2pm during which more information will be shared on the subject matter. We appreciate the patience of members and the general public while we take time to do a diligent job and render account for our stewardship.

It is important to note that the Union for the first time released an annual report on all of its activities last year including how the Government allocation of GHC 2million is been used and we assure all our members we shall present an audited accounts to the Ministry of Finance, Parliament and the good people of Ghana.

Together, let’s all support and make Ghana Music Week, that International standard festival brand, we all desire. Thank you.
Signed

Mrs.Deborah Anaman
General Secretary
MUSIGA

Signed
Oheneba Kissi
Treasurer
Musiga

Email: musigaonline@gmail.com
URL: www.musiga.org.gh
PRO contact: Okyeame Kwame – 0240676673
Musiga Administrator: Ahuma Bosco – 0243382474
Musiga Communications Director: Sakyiwaa Akosua

Two of Ghana’s leading men, Majid Michel and John Dumelo have beeen honoured by the city of Philadelphia.  They were presented with Citation for their outstanding contribution to African cinema,  at Philadelphia City Hall  on Wednesday, April 10.  They become the first African actors to pick up such an honour which include past recipients such as Azumah Nelson and Sylvester Stallone. 

Dignitaries present at the ceremony were Honorable Jannie L. Blackwell, City Council of Philadelphia, Hon. Stanley L. Straughter, Chairman of the Mayor’s Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs, and Honorary,Consul The Republic of Guinea and Dr. Samuel Quartey, Chairman/African Caribbean Business Council, Imhotep Charter School & Ga Dangme
Foundation.

As part of the activities making the 20^th anniversary of the SRC of the University of Education Winneba, an Awards ceremony has been held to honor some of the nation’s young but forceful stars in the entertainment industry. Among them were sexy actresses Martha Ankomah and AMAA award winning star Majid Michel.

The citation presented to the beautiful actress read:

“we honor you this day as one of the big six celebrities on the occasion of the 20^th anniversary UEW SRC Week Celebration dubbed, UEW SRC Honors Night. Your contribution to the showbiz industry in Ghana, the immense discipline you have exhibited over the years, in and outside your profession has been highly recognized and appreciated. Your unwavering moral standards and influence has won the admiration of all Ghanaians especially we the students of the University of Education, Winneba. It is refreshing to know that Ghana can still boast of stars whose underlying responsibility of social role modeling is not tanned by the pressure of spotlights and splendor of red carpets. We hope that you are motivated enough to continue and improve your efforts in uplifting the name of Ghana”

Martha thanked the students and the school authorities for the honor and dedicated the award to her cherished fans across the country.

Actor Majid Mitchell who is currently out of the country was represented by his mother and elder brother. Musicians EL, Kwabena Kwabena, Atumpan and Stone Buoy also received awards for their contribution to the music industry.

Sensational gospel diva, Herty Borngreat aka Herty Rapper has called on her colleague musicians to support the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) and as well pleaded with all gospel ministers to pray for the success of the event.

“As Christians, we should not forget that the things we say with our mouths must be positive. So instead of condemning and speaking about only the shortfalls of the VGMA, we should rather be saying, confessing and professing positive things about the event.

“As ministers of the gospel of Christ it is expected of us to say special prayers for the success of the music awards. We should not get carried away by the negative media basing and all that because at the end of the day that is one of the leading awards events for musicians we have and we must all protect it, support it, pray for it and make sure it is successful and even grows bigger and better,”

Film makers and participants interested in being considered for the 2013 GIAMA nominations must be residents of any African country, or an African descendant living in the Diaspora, in order to be considered eligible.

Film makers and participants interested in being considered for the 2013 GIAMA nominations must be residents of any African country, or an African descendant living in the Diaspora, in order to be considered eligible.

GENERAL
The GIAMA Awards of Merit shall be awarded annually and will recognize outstanding performances and achievements in theatrically released films in the African film industry.
The Awards of Merit shall be presented in the form of a gold plaque with an imprint of GIAMA on the statuette, and will be provided to all the winners for each categories listed below:

ELIGIBILITY
All eligible films, unless otherwise stated, must be a feature length (defined as over 60 minutes running time).
All films to be considered must be shot or released between January 2012 and May 2013. Films that were previously submitted for 2012 GIAMA consideration are not eligible.

Eligibility for all awards will first be ascertained by credits as they appear on the screen and/or as provided in the submission form to the GIAMA organization by the producing companies. Final determination, in the event of credit discrepancies, will be made by the GIAMA in conjunction with the producers or publicists of the film production company.

In the event of any dispute concerning credits, the GIAMA maintains the right to declare any achievement ineligible or, alternatively, to reject all claims to credit, list credits as being in controversy and withhold any award until the dispute is resolved.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Every submission shall be conditioned upon the delivery to the GIAMA in a DVDor Blu-ray format.

Interested filmmakers should contact the appropriate contacts as stated below, and complete the required form while submitting a preview copy of their movie(s) for GIAMA Awards consideration.

In submitting a film for GIAMA Awards consideration, the film owner(s) are deemed to have conveyed to the GIAMA organization the right to choose excerpts from the film for incorporation into the GIAMA telecast for the year in which the film is in competition.
The preview copy should be submitted between the recommended dates April 6 through May 31, 2013.

The first and only African DJ awards ceremony ‘African Global DJ Awards’ created to recognize and celebrate the talent of the greatest DJs in Africa would be held on  May 4 at the Sandton Convention Centre Johannesburg, South Africa. This event is billed to hold annually.

The DJs are nominated in sixteen categories including a category for the females. The winners will be decided by popular Fan votes while the event will be hosted by the lifestyle show presenter Lerato kganyago and Ugandan rapper Navio.

Acts billed to light up the night are Tear Gas, R2bees, Navio, Efya, Duncan Mighty, AKA, Ice Prince,Camp Mulla, Dj Oskido, Dj Aly and Fila, Dj Xclusive, Dj JimmyJatt, Dj Tbo Touch, Dj Kess, Dj Black and a host of other acts

Before the awards, a lot of opportunities will arise for the fans to interact with their favourite DJs from around the world who have been nominated. Fans and DJs can chat and share pictures via our facebook page (www.facebook.com/agdaawards ), Hangout via googleplus (+agdaawards) and share opinions, pictures and video skits via twitter (@agdaawards, using the hashtag #AgdaAwards), Instagram (agdaawards), youtube (agdaawards) and keek (agdaawards). Fans can also send in questions or their views regarding the event and our nominees via these media and all questions will be answered. 
The nominees’ parties will hold in 3 different cities before the event proper and these are:
· Accra, Ghana on the 12th of April 2013
· Lagos, Nigeria on the 18th of April
· Nairobi Kenya on the 20th of April

  GALA NITE This will be a night before the award: DJ Networking Gala

Date: May 3rd, 2013Venue: Johannesburg, South Africa

Time: 7pm
After Party: 10pm
(This event is strictly by invitation)

MAIN EVENT

· African Global DJ Awards

Date: May 4th, 2013

Venue: Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa

Time: 7pm

After Party: 11pm