“There is natural mystic blowing through the air, if you listen carefully now you will hear? This could be the first trumpet might as well be the last. Many more we will have to suffer….

THINGS ARE NOT THEY WAY THEY SHOULD BE…one and all have to face reality now this could be the first trumpet might this one be the last…these are the big fish they always trying to eat up the small fish”

These are a combination of lyrical lines from the late Robert Nesta Marley, alias Bob Marley, and songs: Natural Mystic and Guiltiness, which I have, churn out beautifully to state my case of how musicians in Ghana have been marginalized and taken for granted by politicians.

Bob Marley is the undisputed king of reggae and social commentator but to us in the third world we believe that his prophetic howls still ring true, his expansive music remains powerful, virtuosic and very relevant in today’s happenings in the world.

Music play important role in the socio-economic development of any country that takes its music industry seriously. Music can be a source of revenue generation through exportation and taxes but in Ghana the opposite is the case. We only recognize musicians at the time we needed their assistance for funerals, out-doorings, social gatherings, and political rallies or during sporting activities.

When I was growing up I kept on hearing this popular phrase: music and concert belongs to the down trodden and school dropouts (Nkwasie mpafour edwuma). Thank God today the same expression has given way to maestro, social commentators and so many accolades (Omanma).

Music has been used to educate, entertain and inform society about wrong doings and unification. A typical example is Bob Marley himself, in the early 70s used a musical fiesta - dubbed Reggae Sunsplash to unite the two rivals in Jamaicans politics; Prime Minster Michael Manley and his opposing leader, just recently weren’t musicians in Sierra Leone accused of using music to ouster the former government through the ballot box? Back home aren’t our own A-Plus using his music prowess to inform and educate the populace about the life-style and malfeasance by politicians? Those apart aren’t our politicians using musicians to compose songs for their political campaigns?

Ironically, these same politicians damped them where they met them only for these musicians to continue to wallop in abject poverty and misery. Most of the names we were hearing yesteryears; where are they and what are they doing? There are a whole lot of problems confronting musicians, whose solution is not beyond the politician left alone the President but nobody seems to care or taking the musician serious.

Problems like; Piracy, Copyright, Record Company, Royalties and equipments easily come to mind. The NDC having elected their flag bearer already, the CPP and other minority parties on the verge of doing same whiles the Presidential hopefuls for NPP coming up in December see the euphoria emanating from the various camps as they use the music as a campaign messages.

The various aspirants are busily using the musicians to compose catchy and attractive songs for their campaigns. This is what we have been subjected to; Political gimmick from all corners but none of them have thought of the plight of the poor musician. Lack of knowledge my people are perish so say the good book.

Our musicians have been taken for granted for far too long and I think the time has come for somebody to act now and that person is the journalist who has been interacting with them on the plight of these musicians, since they know the nifty nature of music that is why they always seek their assistance.

So far I have not heard any of the aspirants of all the political parties (I stand for correction) saying or talking about the music industry and what they have in stock for them if they should come to power… But I know that apart from the advantage we derived from music as a source of entertainment and all that but a multi-million dollar industry.

Our Presenters who may have the opportunity to interview the aspirants from all the political parties to ask them their vision and what they intended doing for the musicians, they are suffering. In fact our presenters are doing well but there are a lot to be done in this wise. Our journalists too must not only look at the pomp and pageantry that goes with their campaigns but what they can do for the musician.

I rest my case and I believe our musicians will start to revise their notes on the above issues I have raised…..and as Bob Marley said “dem belly full but we are hungry…