Seth Amponsah, GAPI Chairman
The Ghana Association of Phonographic Industry (GAPI) has declared that the rebranding of the association by his administration is to make the association more attractive and lucrative to members and industry players.
The Chairman of GAPI, Seth Kwaku Amponsah, has assured members of the association that his administration would provide quality leadership that addresses the needs and aspirations of its members, the music industry and Ghana as a whole.
He announced that his administration would soon embark on a re-registration exercise which would take place throughout the country to register all the music producers and publishers in the country.
In a chat with BEATWAVES, Mr Amponsah said the newly-elected national executives of the association would create an enabling environment to facilitate smooth operation in the industry.
He mentioned that a committee has been put in place to fight music piracy, which is gradually bringing the music industry to an unfortunate demise.
According to him, piracy and technological advancements which make it possible for people to illegally record songs of artistes “is the major challenge currently confronting GAPI.”
On the way forward for GAPI under his tenure, Mr Amponsah pointed out that plans were afoot to introduce a special security code which would be printed on CDs to prevent people from pirating them.
The GAPI chairman said his prime motive is also to position the music industry in a manner such that it would be profitable and attractive for people to invest in it as it used to be in the past.
The chairman, who is also a seasoned music producer with more than 50 albums to his credit, stressed that as the chairman of the association, he would work tirelessly toward the payment of royalties to music producers.
He explained that his administration would practise an open-door policy whereby the views and concerns of members would be taken into account before any decision is taken.
Mr Amponsah called on all members to rally their unflinching support behind the present executives to enable them to carry out their ambitious and effective plans for GAPI.
By George Clifford Owusu