The Akan have an adage that goes like “S3 WO Nsa Sim a, y3 nni ngya WO”. To wit, “when or IF your hand is in the pudding, you will not be left out”. The function word, IF here connotes Choice. It is right here with us, Artistes to take part in the Audiovisual Rights Society of Ghana (ARSOG) matters, and for that matter, illustrious members of the Ghana Actor’s Guild, Ashanti, has Chosen to vie for membership on the board in the upcoming elections to elect such people to represent the interest of the Guild.
ARSOG, as we all know is there to protect the Rights of owners of Audiovisual works in Ghana. The association also collects Royalties on behalf of us (Performers) from public users of our works. ARSOG also Receives levy on recordable materials from the government on our behalf which is distributed to us (Performers) at the end of every period.
For far too long, Artistes has been sidelined in the management of such funds, and has made performers shipwreck with regards to what is due us financially. In as much as we were “ignorant about the dealings of the association” we couldn’t reap anything from our toils years gone by. The opportune time is right here with us for us to manage our own affairs for no one can paddle our canoes for us to berth at a safe shore.
To this end, I am of the view that, as such persons who are from the rank and file of the industry has taken it upon themselves to vie for such positions on the board, it is incumbent on us to support them to the hilt to see to it that their aspirations are met which in the end will go a long way to better our lot.
This can be realised by voting for them massively without which this can’t be materialised. This I believe we all will commit ourselves to.
One of such persons is Mr. Bill Asamoah, the chairman of the Ghana Actors Guild, Ashanti. An astute, prolific and an unassuming personality, who has for years steered the affairs of the Guild in the Ashanti region. He is very affable and a team leader. He is very articulate ànd a level headed personality. Mr. Asamoah commands respect and admired by people within and without the industry.
Voting for Bill, as he’s affectionately called within and without the industry will help champion our cause to realise what will rightful be ours going forward. Being an astute personality, I believe he will not be a pushover. He can articulate his way through to see to it that the welfare of performers are met. He can. As a matter of principle, he can make inroads into how to see to it that performers are not in any way possible left behind with regards to our common goal.
Mr. Bill Asamoah to the best of my knowledge, will not renege in seeking our individual and collective views on matters arising with the running of the association in order to smoothen seeming rough edges when the need arises. In as much as we put our trust in him to be one of our representative on the board, he definitely will see to it that things are done right to better the cause of the association to the benefit of us all. He will jettison selfishness to the deep waters and live to fight for our common good and goal.
In fact, Bill is the man. This is a clarion call to consensus building and, it behoves on us all to sell his candidature across the length and breadth of the country to realise this dream.Voting for him massively will nib in the bud the recent hue and cry that characterises the payments of royalties to performers.
The time is now, Let us rise up_and rally behind the peoples choice to victory
LONG LIVE ARSOG!
LONG LIVE GAG!
Papa Nii
PRO-GAG Ashanti
