Sidney: No Party Can Use My Song

One of Ghana's talented hip life artistes, Sidney Berima Ofori, whose latest song "Africa Money Oga de chop am waawaa" has caused a stir in political circles, has indicated that he would not allow any political party to use the song for this year's elections. Reports reaching DAILY GUIDE indicate that certain political figures had bagged large sums of US dollars to influence Sidney to sell the song to them to be used as their official campaign song for this year's elections. Rumours making the rounds indicate that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had shown interest in the song and some personalities in the party are trying hard to persuade the management of the artiste to sell the song to them. In 2003, Sidney allowed his popular song "Scent No" to be used by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as its campaign song. "Africa Money", which was released a month ago has made a lot of impact on the Ghanaian music scene and had caught on well with both local and foreign music lovers in the country. The song talks about some African leaders who swim in riches while ordinary citizens die of poverty. In a chat, Sidney confirmed that certain individuals from the opposition NDC had approached him, convincing him to release the song to the party to use for its campaign towards the 2008 elections. "I do not think I will release the 'Africa Money' song to any political party in the country. I do not want any of my songs to be politicized any more." He mentioned that the public refused to patronize his song, "Scent No", after it was released to the NPP in 2003 to be used in its campaign. He told DAILY GUIDE he had referred the issue to his management team, who would come out with a final decision on whether the song should be released to a political party. In an interview, Kiki Banson, chief executive of EKB Records and a member of Sidney's management team said as far as he was concerned no political party had approached them over the song. "We are not ready to release the song to any political party and there is nothing to discuss with any political party about the song. They should go to the studio and compose their own political songs for the campaign during 2008 elections," he said. He denied claims that the management of Sidney had been offered thousands of US dollars by certain political figures for the song, adding that they are not poor, but rich so they cannot be influenced with dollars or gold. He told DAILY GUIDE: "As I am talking to you now nobody has come to us to talk about the song or buy the right to use the song as their official campaign song". A number of music producers who spoke with DAILY GUIDE Sunday were of the view that "Africa Money' seeks to educate the people about how certain politicians amass wealth at the expense of the poor tax-payer.