Ghana: MUSIGA postpones elections again

The organisation, which has been struggling with recurring election delays, last held a successful election in 2014. It has been unable to proceed with a recently set election date of 8 August due to an interlocutory injunction imposed by the High Court in Accra. This was prompted by a legal challenge initiated by MUSIGA members Frederick van Dyck and Doe Kwablah Seyenam Nyamadi.

The crux of their petition alleges that MUSIGA’s present leadership, in breach of the union’s constitution, failed to produce comprehensive financial records. This alleged financial irregularity, according to the plaintiffs, renders MUSIGA ineligible to oversee elections and transfer authority to a new executive.

The court supported their assertion and issued the injunction, effectively putting the elections on hold until a full hearing can be conducted.

In response to the development, MUSIGA’s election committee, chaired by Peter Marfo, has issued a statement announcing the postponement of the elections, saying that a new date will be communicated in due course.

“This is based on information from the Electoral Commission of Ghana that they have received a copy of an injunction on the elections and as a result, they cannot supervise the elections and they have also sent same directives to their regional Electoral Commission directors,” the statement reads. “We apologise for any inconvenience this development has caused to our esteemed members, aspirants and the union in a free and fair manner.”

MUSIGA’s journey towards conducting elections has been marred by a series of obstacles. Initially slated for 2019, the elections were repeatedly delayed due to legal challenges.

Earlier this year, MUSIGA’s national executive council (NEC) set 8 August as the date for the polls, which was followed by an emergency NEC meeting to approve an election proposition by the election committee.

Industry veterans such as Bessa Simons, Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi and Deborah Freeman are vying for the role of MUSIGA president.

Last month, MUSIGA’s leadership publicly criticised a decision by certain members to form a breakaway organisation, citing concerns about the unity and integrity of the body. It emphasised a violation of MUSIGA’s constitution through affiliation with a competing musicians’ association.