I will dissolve GHAMRO and MUSIGA as a Tourism Minister – D-Black

Ghanaian hip-hop artist and entrepreneur, D-Black, has expressed strong opinions about the current state of music unions in the country, stating that if he were ever appointed as Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, he would dissolve organizations like the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), the Ghana Music Rights Organization (GHAMRO), and the Copyright Society of Ghana (COSGA).

In a recent interview, D-Black criticized these bodies for failing to fulfill their core mandates, particularly in the collection and distribution of royalties. “We don’t have a royalty collection society that is accountable,” he said. “I would shut down MUSIGA, GHAMRO, and COSGA, and create a new entity to take over the responsibilities they’ve neglected. The existing bodies aren’t delivering what they’re supposed to for musicians and producers in Ghana.”

He added that, despite different leaderships over the years, MUSIGA has failed to produce any tangible achievements that artists can truly celebrate. “We’ve seen presidents come and go, but there’s nothing significant we can point to as a major success for the music industry.”

To ensure the future growth of Ghana’s music sector, D-Black proposed the introduction of capacity-building initiatives aimed at educating and equipping stakeholders with the necessary knowledge and skills. He emphasized the need for human capital development, with a focus on providing training for music industry professionals, including artist managers and business executives.

“I would educate the industry, especially those managing artists, on how the music business has evolved. Many artists rely on managers who are often close friends but lack proper training. We need more education to make the industry more viable,” D-Black explained.

Artists such as Ohemaa Mercy, Joyce Blessing, Stonebwoy, Efya, and Shatta Wale have all voiced frustrations over inadequate royalty payments from GHAMRO, frequently criticizing the organization for its inefficiencies. D-Black’s proposed reforms aim to address these long-standing issues, creating a more transparent and effective system for Ghanaian musicians.