A union of professional performers, creative artists and artistes known as Ekwiti Ghana has been launched in Accra.
The umbrella organization for the creative and performing arts and stakeholders in the fraternity is a functional body providing securities to member groups. Under this one self structured umbrella organization, actors, technicians, writers, musicians, dancers, directors within their own groupings stand to benefit in a number of ways as follows:
1. By presenting a large enough force for negotiations on various fronts airtime sales by broadcaster, insurance policies and discounted premiums, pay sales etc.
2. By developing internal disciplines and ranking scales which will standardize quality enough to make the industry viable
3. By advocacy be able to influence relevant legislation for industry including tax rebates, duty exemptions and rules for growth of the local industry
4. By harnessing the talent involved to become a meaningful player in the economic emancipation of the continent through infotainment, and largely by encouraging the development of similar umbrella organizations all over Africa.
Ekwiti is made up of an Executive Committee Board, members, secretariat and a number of organizations including MUSIGA, Ghana Actors Guild, and Women in Arts among other major associations in Ghana. The executive committee is headed by Oscar Provencal and is made up of other prolific icons in the arts such Kofi Bucknor, Professor Nii Yartey, Mike Amankwah and several others.
MP for South Ablekuma and ace entertainer Fritz Baffour, who is a patron of Ekwiti in a passionate speech during the press launch on November 20 described Ekwiti as long overdue. He underscored that a united front is the way forward for the development of the arts industry. The theme for the launch was �A united front for the development of the arts and entertainment industry�.
Among some of the measures that Ekwiti hopes to use in promoting the development of music for example in Ghana is the provision of a system that would monitor airplay and effective payment of royalties under the E-COSGA arm of Ekwiti. According to union, it already has the system available in Ghana. Ekwiti has also managed to secure the Maxlot Hotel in Accra to host performances by member artists each Friday night all in a bid to promote the arts industry.
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