A Tamale-based musician, Yamusah Mohammed Yason, known in showbiz as Don Sigli, has denied media reports that Roads Minister, Inusah Fuseini, bought his new album for ¢20,000 after spending lavishly at the album launch.

On April 16, 2016, Don Sigli launched his second album Wumpuni (God’s gift) at the conference room of the Tamale Sports Stadium. One of the guests at the launch was Inusah Fuseini, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Tamale Central constituency.

After the launch, a video of Inusah Fuseini splashing cash on the musician went viral on social media and some websites which portrayed the minister as an “opulent” man who is showing off his wealth at a time the nation is going through crises.

Media reports that went with the video said the minister rained cash on the musician. A report attributed to Rainbow Radio said, “¢56,000 was thrown on the ground at various stages of the performance while the Minister also bought the album for ¢20,000.”

Don Sigli, however, tells myjoyonline.com that Inusah Fuseini did not buy the album. He said the highest amount at which a CD was bought at the launch was $3000 [GH11,550). 

“The highest buyer was Alhaji Fuzak, who is a contractor. Inusah Fuseini did not buy the copy and anybody who was at the launch will attest to this,” Sigli said.

He said the minister threw cash on him while he performed but maintained that it was part of the culture of the people there.

“That is the culture here. When a musician performs you find people throwing cash on him. But the minister was not the only one who threw cash on me,” Sigli explained.

He said the money gathered on the ground after all the performances was “between ¢2,500 and ¢3000.”

Sources close to the minister said he threw ¢5 notes and a few ¢10 notes at the programme and said many people did so and that was captured in the video.

The source said even the mother of the musician and his former teachers did same so what the minister did was not in any way suggest any extravagant.

The practice is common in the north and in some Muslim communities such as Nima, Madina, Maamobi, Sabon zongo in Accra and other zongos across the country.

Watch video below.