MUSIGA to elect new president on June 26.

As Bice Osei Kuffour’s second term as the president of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) comes to an end, plans to elect a successor has started in earnest. The musicians’ body has set June 26 this year as the date for members to elect a new president.

“The National Executive Committee of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) has appointed a five-member committee to supervise the pending national elections of the Union scheduled for June 26 this year,” MUSIGA said in a statement to Myjoyonline.com Wednesday.

The committee, according to the statement, will be chaired by highlife musician Smart Nkansah with former MUSIGA President Diana Hopeson as secretary.

They will be supported by Rev Dr. Mary Ghansah, legal practitioner Jonathan Cudjoe of the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) and neo-soul artiste, Trigmatic.

In October 2015, Bice Osei Kuffour (Obour) was reelected to lead MUSIGA for another four-year term.

Obour beat three other contenders, Gyedu Blay Ambolley and Appiah Dankwah (Appietus) at a MUSIGA congress in Koforidua in the Eastern Region.

Among other duties, the committee, that will see the election of Obour’s successor, will supervise the filing and nomination process and handle the vetting of the candidates. 

They will work closely with the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure a free and fair election.

A road map released by MUSIGA has the following highlights:

1.    Call for nominations                    March 27

2.    Close of nominations                   April 17

3.    Vetting of candidates                   April 26

4.    Exhibition of voters register         April 29

5.    Voting in all regional capitals       June 26

6.    Announcement of results             June 26

7.    Inauguration of new executives   August 27

The elections will be held in all regional capitals in line with the amended MUSIGA constitution which stipulates that all paid up card-bearing members are eligible to vote.

The musicians’ union has also announced the filing fees for the various positions being contested. 

These are:

President                 ₵ 2,500

Vice Presidents        ₵2,000

General Secretary    ₵1,500

Others                     ₵ 1,000

The forms are on sale for ₵200.