The anticipated listing, expected in December 2025, aims to boost Highlife’s global prominence and create new cultural and economic opportunities for Ghanaian musicians.

Leading the MUSIGA delegation were President Bessa Simons, Second Vice President Abena Ruthy, General Secretary S.K. Agyemang, and Director of Communications and Special Projects Ahuma Bosco Ocansey.

Also present were UNESCO Culture Specialist Carl Ampah, Dr. Samantha Hollingworth of MUSIGA, and Augustine Mark, Head of Ram Media Concepts and producer of the upcoming She Rhythms Ghana festival scheduled for December 4 to 6, 2025.

The festival will celebrate Ghana’s musical heritage, especially the role of women in music.

Mr. Moukala emphasized that the initiative goes beyond cultural pride, describing it as a tool for economic empowerment.

“The enlistment of Highlife is a powerful opportunity not just for cultural preservation but for economic growth. When Highlife is mentioned anywhere in the world, it will be synonymous with Ghana,” he noted.

MUSIGA President Bessa Simons expressed appreciation to UNESCO for its support, saying the collaboration strengthens Ghana’s efforts to protect and promote its musical heritage.

“UNESCO’s recognition of Highlife will elevate Ghanaian artists globally and open new pathways for growth and international collaboration,” she said.

MUSIGA’s engagement with UNESCO forms part of its broader commitment to safeguarding Ghana’s cultural legacy while leveraging international recognition to advance the local creative economy.

Source: AdomOnline

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The launch, held last Friday, marks the start of what MUSIGA describes as an annual celebration dedicated to spotlighting and empowering women in the music industry.

MUSIGA President, Bessa Simons, said the festival is not just about performances but also about equipping women with the tools to thrive in the creative space.

“SheRhythms is more than a festival, it’s a movement to celebrate, elevate, and empower women in music,” he noted.

As part of the programme, seminars and workshops will cover areas such as artist management, audio engineering, stage lighting, band direction, and live production.

The initiative builds on MUSIGA’s establishment of a Gender Desk last year to promote female participation in Ghana’s creative sector.

The maiden edition will feature female musicians from Ghana and across the globe, making it a platform of international reach.

Application forms for interested performers will be released in the coming weeks, after which a selection team will curate the final lineup.

READ ON

Source: Okatakyie Adjei Sikapa

This development comes as public concern grows over the inadequate recognition and documentation of Ghana’s music pioneers, particularly those who helped shape Highlife, a genre deeply rooted in our cultural heritage.

Speaking to Graphic Showbiz on August 5, MUSIGA President Bessa Simons revealed that MUSIGA is actively collaborating with the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB) to establish an essential national music archive.

According to him, the proposed museum will serve as a permanent record of Ghana’s rich musical history, including various genres, landmark moments and key personalities who have defined the country’s music.

“We are embarking on documenting our artists. There is no data about them anywhere,” Simons stated, noting that “for instance, when you mention a great musician like CK Mann, there is no proper documentation on him. We will include Lumba in the list. That is the reason why we want a national music archive to honour such icons.

“In addition to the music museum where the history and contributors to Highlife will be preserved, we will make sure that all other genres done in Ghana are also there. And we will fuse it with a Hall of Fame, so that if you go to this place, you will see that everything that has to do with music in Ghana is there.”

Beyond these facilities, MUSIGA is also set to launch a series of activities in honour of Daddy Lumba and other fallen stars. These will include nationwide tribute concerts and educational workshops to highlight Highlife’s evolution and its continued relevance.

“There will be a special tribute concert and workshops for people to know what Lumba did with Highlife, because he brought a different kind of contribution to the genre.

“A special seminar on Highlife music will be organised at the end of the year by stakeholders, including the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Arts Agency, Ghana Tourism Authority, Commission on Culture and Folklore Board.

Mr Simons emphasised that MUSIGA has been in talks with relevant parties to push for formal recognition of Highlife as part of Ghana’s intangible cultural heritage. They hope this move will be finalised by November.

“We started efforts even before Daddy Lumba passed away,” Simons stated. “We want UNESCO to list Highlife as one of the intangible cultural heritage, making it a cornerstone in discussions around music globally. Just like how Jamaica readily comes to mind at the mention of Reggae, we want it to be the same for Ghana whenever Highlife is mentioned,” he stated.

Finally, the MUSIGA President stressed the need to reconnect younger generations with Highlife music. He lamented that many youth have drifted away from the genre, partly due to a lack of national support and positive storytelling around its value.

“We must work hard to inspire young people to embrace Highlife. Too often, the genre is overlooked or dismissed, but it remains the foundation of much of the music we enjoy today. Every modern sound in Ghana carries echoes of Highlife,” Simons concluded.

Source: graphic.com.gh

The high-level meeting, held on 2nd June 2025, brought together MUSIGA executives and senior officials from the Copyright Office to deliberate on key industry concerns.

Discussions focused on enhancing copyright protection, streamlining royalty systems, and resolving persistent disputes within GHAMRO that continue to hinder its effectiveness.

Delays and inconsistencies in royalty disbursement were a major concern, with MUSIGA President Bessa Simons highlighting the heavy financial dependence of musicians on these payments. Despite approximately 80% of musicians being registered with GHAMRO, irregularities in distribution remain unresolved.

Ongoing legal battles over GHAMRO’s election processes, constitutional clarity, and internal leadership have further complicated its operations. The Copyright Office reiterated that only the courts are empowered to appoint interim leadership and stressed that any action by the Attorney General’s office must adhere strictly to legal protocols.

To help resolve the impasse, the meeting proposed engaging neutral mediators or respected industry veterans to facilitate dialogue among stakeholders. Director of the Copyright Office, Mr William Akwetey Bonsu, urged all parties to withdraw legal cases and instead embrace dialogue to avoid further damage to the sector. He added that legal guidance has been issued to ensure that judicial timelines are respected.

Mr Bonsu also emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between MUSIGA and the Copyright Office to safeguard the rights of musicians and foster a thriving creative ecosystem. He reaffirmed the Office’s neutrality and pledged ongoing support for professional unity in the industry.

Updating participants on MUSIGA’s recent activities, Mr Simons outlined capacity-building initiatives targeting digital trends and live band performance skills. He also shared highlights of upcoming events marking the Union’s Golden Jubilee, including Authentic Highlife Nights in July, the She Rhythms Ghana Festival in December, and the long-anticipated Presidential Grand Ball, which has not been held since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also present at the meeting were MUSIGA General Secretary S.K. Agyemang, Administrator Vida Obeng Kwarteng Asante, and Samuel Awuku Djakete, Principal Research Officer at the Copyright Office.

‘Musicians Help Musicians’, aims at addressing the growing concerns over the welfare of musicians, particularly those facing serious health challenges but lack the financial means to seek treatment.

As part of the initiative, MUSIGA will partner with a Denmark-based medical firm, Care4Aged International to offer professional training to selected Ghanaian volunteers who will serve as caregivers to ailing musicians.

Also, Gyae Su Herbal Centre, a medical facility based in Ghana, has been selected to host and facilitate the initiative.

The centre will not only serve as the training ground for caregivers but also as the designated health facility where musicians can receive free medical care.

In a chat with Graphic showbiz, Bessa Simons  emphasised the urgent need for such a drive, revealing that MUSIGA frequently receives distress calls about musicians stranded in hospitals due to their inability to pay medical bills.

“There have been countless times we’ve received calls about musicians detained in hospitals because they can’t afford their medical expenses.

“This initiative is our way of ensuring  such situations become a thing of the past. With ‘Musicians Help Musicians’, we aim at making healthcare readily accessible and free for musicians who need it most,” he stated.

Detailing how the project will be executed, he said:  “This year, in collaboration with a Denmark medical firm, we are starting  ‘Musicians Help Musicians’.  As part of this, doctors and nurses will arrive in Ghana to train volunteers who have already signed up to become carers for musicians in need.

“These carers will be equipped to assist bedridden musicians, help those with mobility challenges, and provide them with essential aids such as walking sticks or other support devices.

“Additionally, after their training, some of the volunteers will have the opportunity to travel to Denmark for practical experience before returning to Ghana to offer quality care,” he noted.

Bessa Simons further explained that the Danish medical partners would assess the chosen facility to identify specific medical equipment needs.

“If Gyae Su Herbal Centre needs for example, a dialysis machine, they will help provide it. The idea is to ensure that when musicians visit the facility, they can get all the necessary healthcare without worrying about cost,” he added.

The meeting, which was attended by MUSIGA executives and renowned musician Divine Drummer Okyerema Asante, aimed to inform the Minister about the planned ceremonies and cultural events honoring the legacies of Teddy Osei, co-founder of the influential afro-rock group Osibisa, and Naa Amanua, a celebrated traditional musician.

Both musicians have made significant contributions to Ghana’s music industry and culture, leaving an indelible mark on the nation’s music scene. The delegation briefed the Minister on the details of the funeral rites and highlighted the importance of these events in celebrating Ghana’s rich cultural heritage.

Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie expressed her condolences to the families and praised the contributions of both Teddy Osei and Naa Amanua to Ghana’s cultural landscape. She assured the families of the Ministry’s full support for the funeral rites and emphasized the role these events play in promoting cultural tourism and showcasing Ghanaian music globally.

The Minister also reaffirmed her commitment to fostering a vibrant cultural environment that honors the nation’s music icons while boosting the creative arts sector.

MUSIGA President Bessa Simons congratulated the Minister on her appointment and thanked her for the warm reception. He also expressed the families’ gratitude for the Ministry’s support and collaboration.

The meeting concluded with a call for closer cooperation between the Ministry, MUSIGA, and the families to ensure that the funeral rites are a fitting tribute to these music legends and contribute to the growth of Ghana’s tourism and cultural industries.

Speaking to Kwame Dadzie on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z, Abena mentioned that MUSIGA has for the past years, paid critical attention to the welfare of its members.

She noted that apart from the usual welfare contributions they do, they also have a group insurance policy with SIC Life.

According to the ‘Lala’ singer, the aged in the union, do not pay insurance premiums by themselves.

“For the elderly ones, they don’t even pay [their premiums]. MUSIGA pays for them. So members of the Ageing Musicians Welfare Fund (AMWeF), they are not the ones that pay for their insurance. MUSIGA pays for them.

We sign them on automatically. Once you clock 60 years, you automatically won’t pay for your insurance. MUSIGA will do that for you,” she said.

She explained that MUSIGA’s partnership agreement with SIC Life allows their members to have insurance packages by paying 100 cedis as premium.

She added that the Ageing Musicians Welfare Fund which was instituted during tenure of Bice ‘Obour’ Osei Kuffour, is still active.

She said this fund is raised through events they organise and donations from individuals.

“It was the MUSIGA Grand Ball that was previously used to fund it but we haven’t had it for some time now.

Last year, when we had Ghana Music Month in March, we had a highlife concert as +233 Jazz Bar and Grill. There, we raised funds and we used that for the coffers. This year we are going to do same,” she noted.

MUSIGA was founded on December 9, 1975, with the primary objective of uniting musicians under a single organization to safeguard their rights, advance their interests, and advance the Ghanaian music business.

She, however, noted that MUSIGA has assisted Kwadee in the past and intends to do so again on humanitarian grounds.

“There was news about Kwadee recently. He is not even a member now. But our President was on us to link up with him. So that is the kind of thing we are doing. We are a family,” she said in an interview with Kwame Dadzie on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z.

Abena Ruthy further explained that MUSIGA is a welfare group dedicated to improving the living conditions of its members and urged musicians to actively contribute to the union’s welfare and insurance schemes.

According to her, there is a common misconception that every artiste automatically belongs to MUSIGA.

“There is a narrative out there that as long as someone sings, people assume they are part of us. But we have members in good standing. As it stands, Kwadee is not a member in good standing,” she stated.

In 2018, MUSIGA, under the leadership of Ras Caleb Appiah, visited Kwadee at the Willing Ways Foundation rehabilitation center in Kumasi and made donations to support him.

Meanwhile, recent reports suggest that Kwadee’s mental health has deteriorated again.

]]> https://www.adomonline.com/musiga-to-host-all-women-music-festival-as-part-of-50th-anniversary-celebration/ Thu, 07 Nov 2024 16:03:45 +0000 https://www.adomonline.com/?p=2469641 The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) has announced plans to celebrate its Golden Jubilee in 2025, marking 50 years of advocating for musicians’ rights and promoting Ghanaian music.

At a launch event held on November 7, 2024, at the Accra Tourist Information Centre, MUSIGA President Bessa Simons outlined an exciting lineup of anniversary events.

The festivities will include concerts featuring both local and international artists, lectures, symposiums, a gala dinner, and more.

A standout event will be an all-women’s music festival, a unique initiative aimed at spotlighting female musicians worldwide.

Simons explained that international participants will be self-sponsored, with embassies promoting the event to attract talent from around the world.

The anniversary celebration will feature both outdoor and indoor events, church services, and possibly a special performance by international gospel artists like Cece Winans, creating opportunities for collaboration and cultural exchange.

“So we are inviting female musicians from all over the world, and it is self-sponsored if you are coming from outside. All the embassies will publish it, so we are expecting women to come to Ghana and then they will mount the stage.

There will be outdoor events, indoor events, church programmes, and we’re considering bringing Cece Winans and other artists to collaborate with our own, so that at the end of next year, there will be harmony between us and artists from all over the world,” MUSIGA President Bessa Simons said.

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The workshop themed, “Leveraging Digital Tools to Generate Revenue” is part of a training programme supported by the Ghana Skills Development Fund (GSDF) which involves the training of 32 members of the union.

The training is also intended to equip patrons with the necessary skills and knowledge to understand the digital and streaming platforms and how it can be beneficial to their works.

According to the General Secretary of the Union, S. Kofi Agyemang noted that, “Considering the rapid changes in the music business and the fact that the whole business is now digital, from production to consumption, it’s important that we equip our members with the necessary skills to enable them compete favourably in the business and thrive.”

The workshop facilitator, Kwabena Ofei-Kwadey Nkrumah aka Spikey says, “It’s essential that our creatives understand that content creation around their music is the way to generate more revenue and not just uploading your music videos, you need to understand the creation of content and how to monetise your online presence.”

He also mentioned that participants will similarly be taught about the changing music landscape, how to develop a fan base, utilise technological tools such as A.I to create content, how to distribute, market and monetise content among others.

The workshop in Tamale is the third and final workshop by MUSIGA. The previous two workshops took place in Accra and Kumasi.

For the Accra workshop, participants were drawn from Western, Central, Greater Accra, and Volta Regions and Kumasi had participants from Ashanti Region, Eastern Region, and Bono Ahafo Region

President of MUSIGA, Bessa Simons explained that, the festival’s purpose is to showcase the diverse array of Ghanaian music, drawing in music enthusiasts and diaspora communities during the festive season.

He expressed confidence in the festival’s ability to raise the profile of Ghanaian music, both domestically and internationally.

“We are planning to host a Ghana music festival every December for tourists and visitors to enjoy. This festival is going to bring music from all regions of Ghana and it is going to be so big. So let’s embrace our music, listen to our music, get used to our music, download our music, and support our local artists”, he said in an interview with Graphic Showbiz.

Bessa Simons also stressed the collective responsibility to nurture a deeper appreciation for Ghanaian music year-round. 

He encouraged radio stations to amplify Ghanaian music throughout the year, emphasizing that familiarity breeds enjoyment.

“The more exposure we give to our music, the more ingrained it becomes in our culture. It doesn’t have to be only December,” he noted.

The MUSIGA President also highlighted plans to integrate musicians and cultural troupes into tourist experiences across the country, enhancing visitors’ exposure to Ghana’s rich musical and cultural heritage. 

He underscored the importance of incorporating music and dance into the tourism experience to ensure tourists fully appreciate the multifaceted beauty of Ghana’s cultural landscape.

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This announcement was made by the President of the Union, Bessa Simons during the launch of Ghana Month on Joy FM.

“We are collaborating with the Akwaaba Festival to have a show at the forecourt of the National Theatre and what we are doing is, the young, up and coming musicians who don’t normally have big stages, light, Facebook thing for them, they will come and showcase their talents,” he noted.

According to Bessa Simons, this is a move to give young talents a platform to showcase their potentials.

“We are inviting the managers, corporate world, just look at them and see if you can do business with them, because these are the future the we have,” he said.

Bessa also mentioned that on 5th March, 2024, there shall be a music and tourism workshop and health screening for musicians at the Accra Tourist Information Centre.

MUSIGA also intends to initiate a project called Let’s play Ghana Music on March 11, 2024, to rekindle people’s love for Ghanaian music. He noted that another concert at the Gold Coast Restaurant on March 30, 2024 will promote highlife.

This month of March, Joy FM will entertain its listeners with 99.7% local music across its various programmes.

This is part of the move to project Ghana’s culture and heritage during the Ghana Month celebrations.

Ghanaian songs playlisted from genres such as highlife, hiplife, reggae, dancehall, gospel, and folk music, will be played on station.

This is in tandem with advocacy by various activists to promote more Ghanaian music.

There are also more exciting and educative content put together for Joy FM listeners throughout the month.

In a highly anticipated election under the supervision of the Electoral Commission (EC), the veteran highlife musician beat his only rival Ras Caleb.

Bessa, who had been the Acting MUSIGA President since Bice Osei Kuffour resigned polled a total of 324 votes, with Ras Caleb securing 66 votes.

The election, which took place in all the regions, had a good turnout of MUSIGA members who came in to exercise their rights to vote.

Members of MUSIGA Greater Accra Region cast their votes at the Accra Tourist Information Centre.

The election is expected to bring to rest all the prolonged disagreements among members of the union after the elections was postponed four times.

In an earlier interview with Graphic Showbiz, Bessa Simons pledged to work tirelessly to advance the interests of musicians across the country.

His tenure is expected to usher in a period of innovation and growth for the organisation and the Ghanaian music industry at large.

He highlighted the importance of unity and collaboration within MUSIGA, emphasising that “together, we can achieve great strides in the music industry.”

Below is the results from various regions across the country.

Greater Accra:

Bessa Simons: 83 votes

Ras Caleb: 24 votes

Ashanti:

Bessa Simons: 53 votes

Ras Caleb: 8 votes

Upper West:

Bessa Simons: 9 votes

Ras Caleb: 2 votes

Northern Region:

Bessa Simons: 19 votes

Ras Caleb: 4 votes

Eastern Region:

Bessa Simons: 25 votes

Ras Caleb: 2 votes

Volta Region:

Bessa Simons: 22 votes

Ras Caleb: 7 votes

Central Region:

Bessa Simons: 44 votes

Ras Caleb: 10 votes

Upper East:

Bessa Simons: 16 votes

Ras Caleb: 2 votes

Western Region:

Bessa Simons: 18 votes

Ras Caleb: 4 votes

Brong Ahafo Region:

Bessa Simons: 35 votes

Ras Caleb: 3 votes

Here’s a list of other elected executives:

Reverend Dr. Yawson 1st Vice President

Abena Ruthy – 2nd Vice President

S. K. Agyemang -General Secretary

Reverend Eyison – National Treasurer

Reverend Gifty Ghansah – National Welfare Officer

Chizzy Wailer – National Organizer

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The union will be going to the polls on Tuesday, October 10, 2023.

This comes after the election slated for August 8, 2023 was called off following a court injunction secured by two members of the union. It was the fifth time MUSIGA had postponed its elections since 2019.

In a writ of summons dated August 7, 2023, the Plaintiffs, Doe Kwablah Seyram Nyamedi and and Frederick Van Dyck, stated that the elections could not be held because accounts had not been rendered for the past years.

The writ also mentioned the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), former MUSIGA President Bice ‘Obour’ Osei Kuffour as Defendants.

The third defendant was the Electoral Commission of Ghana, which had been tasked to organise the elections. 

However, an Accra High Court in August dismissed the injunction, explaining that the plaintiffs had not proven they would suffer “irreparable harm” if the elections were held. They were therefore asked to pay 10,000 Ghana Cedis damages to the union.

Contesting for Presidency are Bessa Simons (Acting MUSIGA President) and Ras Caleb Appiah Levi (Greater Accra Regional Chairman for MUSIGA).

Gospel musician Thomas Yawson, will be contesting the 1st Vice President position unopposed.

Stella Ganyo and gospel artiste Abena Ruthy are vying for the 2nd Vice President slot.

Contesting the General Secretary position are Samuel Kofi Agyemang and Francis Derman Dogbatse.

Chizzy Wailer, Gifty Oppong Ghansah, Edward Edusa Eyison are also running unopposed for the National Organiser, Welfare Officer and Treasurer positions respectively.

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This, he says, has resulted in many musicians exiting the showbiz scene poor.

According to D-Black, the various institutions set up to seek the welfare of artistes are reneging on their responsibilities and refusing to be accountable for their stewardship.

He stated that, “MUSIGA as a body is in court. There’s no leader. It’s just a mess. I feel like those systems need to be put in place to overlook the rights of Ghanaian creatives not only in the music scene but also in the movie industry as well.”

Speaking to Amelley Djosu on Joy Prime’s Celeb Biz Saturday, the “Enjoyment” hit-maker described the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) and the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) as terrible.

“If I’m to speak bluntly, I will say that the structures that are in place for our music industry are terrible. GHAMRO is a terrible organisation. There’s no accountability. I don’t know how much I’ve made from GHAMRO in my 13 years in the music industry.”

“They’ve attempted to [pay me royalty], but there’s no accountability. You can’t tell me this is what we’re giving everybody. It doesn’t make any sense. When we receive our royalties outside of the country, we get a report. In New Zealand, the song played 77 times between the months of May and August on Spotify. All these data are there,” he said.

The businessman added that a number of right-collection agencies are willing to assist Ghana in setting up a proper scheme to disburse royalties, but GHAMRO has refused to work with them.

The CEO of Black Avenue called on the government to, as a matter of urgency, address the pertinent issues plaguing the creative industry in Ghana.

D-Black is of the strongest view that the government has over the years made several empty promises to help the ailing entertainment industry, and it is high time those pledges were fulfilled.

He further told the host, Amelley Djosu, that the world’s eye is on Ghana, and the government must leverage the opportunity by making strategic investments in the sector.

Desmond Kwesi Blackmore also expressed concern about the inability of artiste managers in the country to appreciate the nuances and dynamics of the music business.

He, however, encouraged his colleague musicians and artiste managers to read widely and be abreast of changing times in order to remain relevant and profitable in the showbiz industry.

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The court ruling also included an award of GHC 10,000.00 in damages against the plaintiffs, Doe Nyamadi and Fred Van Dyk.

The case revolved around an interlocutory injunction that had prevented the scheduled MUSIGA elections on August 8, 2023.

The plaintiffs, both members of the union, cited the lack of rendered accounts from previous years as the basis for their legal action.

The defendants included MUSIGA itself, former MUSIGA President Bice ‘Obour’ Osei Kuffour, and the Electoral Commission of Ghana, which was responsible for organizing the elections.

His Lordship Charles Gyamfi Danquah, presiding over the case, delivered a ruling that not only struck down the motion for injunction but also dismissed the substantive case.

The court further ruled in favour of the defendants, awarding damages of GHC 10,000.00 against the plaintiffs.

This decision marked a turning point in the prolonged dispute that had hindered the union’s electoral process for several years.

This legal battle was the latest in a series of litigations that had caused multiple delays in the MUSIGA elections, which should have taken place as early as 2020. With the court case now resolved, the Musicians Union of Ghana is finally poised to hold its elections and proceed with its much-awaited biennial conference. The last conference was held in Cape Coast in 2018.

As the dust settles on this courtroom drama, all eyes are now on MUSIGA’s upcoming elections and the renewed prospects for the Ghanaian music community.

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At least 500 delegates across the country are expected to vote in the polls supervised by the Electoral Commission.

In the Greater Accra Region, the elections will be held at the Accra Tourist Information Centre (ATIC).

The election register was opened on March 20 to April 3, 2023. This was to allow members to check their status and eligibility. Thereafter, the new voters’ register for the election was compiled from April 4 to April 18, 2023.

It was also followed by the exhibition of the new voter register from April 20 to April 23, 2023.

Contestants had the period before Tuesday, August 8, 2023, to run their campaigns for the elections to take place nationwide.

Contesting for Presidency are Bessa Simons (Acting MUSIGA President) and Ras Caleb Appiah Levi (Greater Accra Regional Chairman for MUSIGA).

Gospel musician Thomas Yawson, will be contesting the 1st Vice President position unopposed.

Stella Ganyo and gospel artiste Abena Ruthy are vying for the 2nd Vice President slot.

Contesting the General Secretary position are Samuel Kofi Agyemang and Francis Derman Dogbatse.

Chizzy Wailer, Gifty Oppong Ghansah, Edward Edusa Eyison are also running unopposed for the National Organiser, Welfare Officer and Treasurer positions respectively.

Background 

MUSIGA has had its elections postponed umpteenth times since 2019 when Bice ‘Obour’ Osei Kuffour finished with his tenure in office as the President of the union.

The elections which were earlier scheduled for June 26, 2019, were later rescheduled by the National Elections Committee to July 10, 2019.

According to the chairman of the committee at the time, Smart Nkansah, the decision was based on the feedback the committee received from the initial release of the voters register for the elections.

There had been concerns that the voters’ register had not been updated and there were some irregularities in the names of the voters.

The Chairman indicated that the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) which would supervise the elections was also engaged with the limited voter registration exercise.

Ras Caleb Appiah, the Chairman for the Greater Accra MUSIGA, actually took the Union to court in 2019 for running an election that had anomalies in the voter’s register and operated under rules in contravention of their constitution.

In the wake of the protracted misunderstanding, Bessa Simons who was the 1st Vice-President was made to act as the President until a new election was held.

The elections was later scheduled for January 13, 2022 but got postponed again to February 23, 2022 to enable enough preparations for the elections of new executives to lead the association for the next four years.

Later in the year, Bessa Simons said that the voter’s register was ready and that they were just waiting for the National Elections Committee to set a date for the elections.

“We have the monies to do it. We’ve gone to the Electoral Commission, they have given us the budget, we are ready to pay them. The only thing left now is for the Election Committee to set a date. They are meeting on Tuesday and I am hopeful that they will come up with a date. MUSIGA will have its elections and whoever wins MUSIGA will move forward,” he said.

That notwithstanding, the elections were not held.

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He urged creatives to take a great interest in artiste management, emphasising that it was a crucial step that could address difficulties with the industry’s lack of international recognition.

Comparing the scenario to the Nigerian music industry, he was of the strong belief that the area, when properly explored by creatives, might be the game changer and influence the direction of the industry, just as it has done for Nigeria.

The seasoned musician told Graphic Showbiz in an interview that artiste managers, who can foster artistes’ creativity and assist build their public image with an eye toward current trends in the industry, are crucial to the success of the sector.

“The artiste management sector has not been fully explored, and we need to make conscious efforts to change that direction in order to enjoy its full benefits for both the industry and ourselves as individuals. Artiste managers support an artiste’s creative development and are able to assist them in making a number of musical and professional decisions.”

“We are aware branding and marketing play a significant role in an artiste’s success. A skilful manager can assist in shaping a musician’s public persona while keeping an eye on current musical trends. Artiste managers create teams to assist them in managing funds and keeping tours and productions under budget.”

“Artiste managers are ideal for this because musicians rarely have the business sense or desire to manage every aspect of their finances. While this aims to aid the artistes, it also directly impacts our industry because it is beneficial when the artistes are well-built and managed for international exploits,” he told Graphic Showbiz.

Aside from the obvious advantages, Bessa Simons urged individuals to make the effort to get into the artiste management space, emphasising that it was also a lucrative business opportunity.

“We would go on and on with a long list of names from both within and outside of Africa of artiste managers who are benefiting greatly from the initiatives.

“Simply put, we must make conscious efforts to explore that space too. If we go into this space with all honesty and remain dedicated to it, it can be a multi-million venture we won’t regret giving a try,” he added.

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In her resignation letter dated July 5, 2023, madam Freeman, also a presidential aspirant in MUSIGA’s forthcoming elections highlightef that she has been with the union for 23 years, and served in different capacities.

She has held positions such as the Central Regional Secretary for two terms, National Secretariat Staff, Personal Assistant to past President, Diana Akiwumi, and as General Secretary for two terms during Bice Osei Kuffour (Obour)’s administration.

She, however, notes that after working with the acting President, Bessa Simons for quite a while she has become “less and less satisfied with the work environment; not being so enabling; and the direction of current leadership, which does not serve the best interest of the Union and its members.”

She indicates that this makes it increasingly difficult to feel she is contributing enough. 

“As General Secretary, I hold myself to the highest standards and my resignation is the right thing to do.

“I have not been happy about the fact that members’ socioeconomic interests are neglected and they are getting less that they deserve as membership benefits. Neither have I been happy about the high numbers of Musicians in the Country who do not subscribe to the Union, for obvious reason that they find the Union unattractive,” she writes.

According to her though she has been interested in helping solve some of the union’s problems, they keep getting worse due to poor leadership.

“I believe that a new work environment will enable me to better serve the interest of musicians, the music industry and the nation at large. I am willing to build an organization strong and flexible for the purpose of promoting and protecting the socioeconomic rights and interests of Musicians.”

She has also announced she is no longer going to contest for the position of the President in the union’s upcoming elections.

“Please accept this letter as official notice of withdrawal of my Candidature as Presidential Aspirant,” she stated.

A few weeks ago, the Acting President of MUSIGA, Bessa Simons cautioned members to be wary of other members who intend to form a new association. 

He said MUSIGA members who are found dealing with the new union will be sanctioned.

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This is the date proposed by NEC for the national and regional elections after almost four years of court injunctions, postponements and internal rifts. 

In a press release issued by the Acting President of the Union, Bessa Simons, the NEC in an emergency meeting to review the roadmap proposed by the election committee, ratified the roadmap proposed by the election committee.

The Election Committee is chaired by Peter Marfo, the outgoing Eastern Regional Chairman of MUSIGA.

“According to the roadmap, the voters register has been opened from March 20 to April 3, 2023. This is to allow members to check their status and eligibility. Thereafter, the new voters’ register for the election will be compiled from April 4 to April 18, 2023,” Bessa announced in the press release. 

This will be followed by the exhibition of the new voter register from April 20 to April 23, 2023.

Contestants will then have the period before Tuesday, August 8, 2023, to run their campaigns for the elections to take place nationwide.

The NEC members believe that holding the elections will pave the way for the newly elected leaders to organize the biennial conference to work on the Union’s constitution, among other issues.

Background 

MUSIGA has had its elections postponed umpteenth times since 2019 when Bice ‘Obour’ Osei Kuffour finished with his tenure in office as the President of the union.

The elections which were earlier scheduled for June 26, 2019, were later rescheduled by the National Elections Committee to July 10, 2019.

According to the chairman of the committee at the time, Smart Nkansah, the decision was based on the feedback the committee received from the initial release of the voters register for the elections.

There had been concerns that the voters’ register had not been updated and there were some irregularities in the names of the voters.

The Chairman indicated that the Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) which would supervise the elections was also engaged with the limited voter registration exercise.

Ras Caleb Appiah, the Chairman for the Greater Accra MUSIGA, actually took the Union to court in 2019 for running an election that had anomalies in the voter’s register and operated under rules in contravention of their constitution.

In the wake of the protracted misunderstanding, Bessa Simons who was the 1st Vice-President was made to act as the President until a new election was held.

The elections was later scheduled for January 13, 2022 but got postponed again to February 23, 2022 to enable enough preparations for the elections of new executives to lead the association for the next four years.

Later in the year, Bessa Simons said that the voter’s register was ready and that they were just waiting for the National Elections Committee to set a date for the elections.

“We have the monies to do it. We’ve gone to the Electoral Commission, they have given us the budget, we are ready to pay them. The only thing left now is for the Election Committee to set a date. They are meeting on Tuesday and I am hopeful that they will come up with a date. MUSIGA will have its elections and whoever wins MUSIGA will move forward,” he said.

That notwithstanding, the elections were not held.

Contesting for Presidency are Bessa Simons (Acting MUSIGA President), Deborah Freeman (General Secretary of MUSIGA), and Ras Caleb Appiah Levi (Greater Accra Regional Chairman for MUSIGA).

There have been lots of brouhaha with court cases flying left, right, centre and this has been very worrisome to many members of the union, one of such is former MUSIGA president, Alhaji Sidiku Buari.

In a chat with Graphic Showbiz, Alhaji Sidiku Buari expressed his displeasure at the goings on in the union.

“I am very unhappy with what is going on, the court case is not actually necessary at this moment. The most important thing is to go to congress and elect their leaders, people who will manage their affairs. It is very important.

“All these issues with MUSIGA is putting everybody off, even some members of the union are no more interested because of the plenty brouhaha. They should forget about these court cases because they won’t help anyone. They should just go to congress to elect their leaders.”

Asked if he experienced this kind of problems during his tenure as MUSIGA President, Alhaji Sidiku Buari said, “Like every organisation, you will always have issues but during my tenure, we did not experience these kinds of court cases like it is happening now.”

“Yes, we had our fair share of issues which we dealt with but not to the extent of going to court. Our issues mainly came from the popular musicians who were always bluffing because they knew they were hot,” he added.

The event will be held at at the Bethel Methodist Society, Community 8 in Tema.

AB Crentsil died on July 13, 2022 at the Bank Hospital, Accra.

Meanwhile, a delegation from the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) has visited the family of the late Highlife legend to sympathise with them on the passing of the legend.

Led by the Acting President of MUSIGA, Bessa Simons, the delegation included the acting National Treasurer, Samuel Kofi Agyemang and leading members of the Ageing Musicians Welfare Fund (AMWEF).

The rest are Highlife star Pat Thomas, Naa Amanua of Wulomei fame, Asabea Cropper who played with AB Crentsil in the Tema based Sweet Talks Band and Director of Communications and Special Projects, Ahuma Bosco Ocansey.

They assured the family of the unflinching support of the Union to ensure the late Highlife icon is given a befitting burial.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Bessa Simons said, ‘’As we all know, we have lost one of our legends who was also a former Vice President of MUSIGA and a founding member of AMWEF.

“He was also very supportive of the work of the union and played a great role in establishing the fund to support ageing and needy musicians. We will miss him greatly.’’

The late AB Crentsil is known for several hit songs such as Devil, Atia, Juliana, I Go Pay You Tomorrow, Papa Shamo, Ayen among other songs.

AB Crentsil, born in 1943, in Prestea in the Western Region was one of the “big three” of contemporary Ghanaian musicians from the West.

He won numerous Ghanaian music awards, including the Fontomfrom Evergreen Award, a special honour bestowed upon a musician with 15–20 years of continuous music experience.

AB Crentsil died on July 13, 2022 at the Bank Hospital, Accra.

Led by the Acting President of MUSIGA, Bessa Simons, the delegation included the acting National Treasurer, Samuel Kofi Agyemang and leading members of the Ageing Musicians Welfare Fund (AMWEF).

The rest are Highlife star Pat Thomas, Naa Amanua of Wulomei fame, Asabea Cropper who played with AB Crentsil in the Tema based Sweet Talks Band and Director of Communications and Special Projects, Ahuma Bosco Ocansey.

The late AB Crentsil

They assured the family of the unflinching support of the Union to ensure the late Highlife icon is given a befitting burial.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Bessa Simons said “as we all know, we have lost one of our legends who was also a former Vice President of MUSIGA and a founding member of AMWEF.

“He was also very supportive of the work of the union and played a great role in establishing the fund to support ageing and needy musicians. We will miss him greatly.’’

Meanwhile, the family of the legendary Highlife musician has announced that the one-week observation will be held on August 22, 2022 at the Bethel Methodist Society, Community 8, Tema.

The late AB Crentsil, who died on July 13, 2022, is known for several hit songs such as Devil, Atia, Juliana, I Go Pay You Tomorrow, Papa Shamo, Ayen among other songs.

AB Crentsil, born in 1943, at Prestea in the Western Region was one of the “big three” of contemporary Ghanaian musicians from the West.

He won numerous Ghanaian music awards, including the Fontomfrom Evergreen Award, a special honour bestowed upon a musician with 15–20 years of continuous music experience.

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The renowned musician, who has acted as President of the music entity for the past two years, says he is apt to win the race billed for January 22, 2022, to continue the good measures since he became acting head of MUSIGA.

Speaking at the launch of the manifesto, Bessa Simons, said problems associated with music royalties collection will be a thing of the past as he is poised to monetise every song that receives airplay.

According to him, monetising music through digitisation is an agenda he will propel forward to make musicians comfortable financially so they can equally have sound minds to produce songs.

He also said he will secure grants to enhance and educate members, adding that each region will be encouraged to have a fundraising activity that will be supported by the president in the national office.

The manifesto went ahead to capture clauses that preached about strengthening all MUSIGA regional branches where every office will be provided with administrative secretaries and the requisite tools to work with.

During his speech, Mr Simons said apart from ensuring that copyright is checked drastically, he will organise workshops to help link every musician to the international music market.

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He explained that the gesture will help equip the Ghanaian musician with what it takes to be self-reliant, creative and industrious.

Meanwhile, other initiatives that he poured out as part of the vision included finding innovative ways to generate revenue for the Union by implementing MUSIGA regional bands, MUSIGA Play an Instrument Programme and an annual fee-paying MUSIGA Expat Concert that will have expatriates treated to original Ghanaian tunes to make them feel a part of the society.

Additionally, in an interview with Adomonline.com, Bessa Simons said one of the core policies he will enforce is a 70/30 play-Ghana-music policy that will encourage broadcasters to play more Ghanaian content to curb the influx of foreign music in Ghana.

In terms of capacity building, the acting President of MUSIGA said he will lobby to put music back on the educational curriculum at the primary level in all schools and also introduce young musicians to a well-structured pension scheme to prevent them from being “paupers” at a later stage of their lives.

The icing on the cake is introducing a policy that will ensure payment of up-and-coming musicians for all gigs and on-air performances across the country.

Meanwhile, speaking on Bessa Simons’ strategy to ensure music royalties and copyright actions are up to the task, Head of Operations at GoCreate Africa, Lekan Ola, said he will work with MUSIGA to materialise it effectively through their technology.

One of the problems we face in Africa is tech. Older musicians and the younger ones’ works are being used without adequate compensation and we are here working with MUSIGA to create accountability and proper remuneration with artistes.

All works will be registered with MUSIGA… every music you put out there. Radio, TV, restaurants and bars et cetera. We have done this in Nigeria and collected over 2.7 billion Naira. It’s ongoing and we will track everything … all works they’ve used that they have not paid for. We have the tech to track every media house when your song is being played. We are very sure and we know this will change the phase of the music industry. Every penny will be accounted for, he said.

MUSIGA would go to the polls on January 12, 2022, with Mr Bessa Simons (Acting MUSIGA President), Madam Deborah Freeman (General Secretary of MUSIGA), and Ras Caleb Appiah Levi (Greater Accra Regional Chairman for MUSIGA) contesting for the top post.

He says MUSIGA has done very little to promote and build a strong support system for Ghanaian musicians, a development he has described as worrying and disappointing.

According to him, many musicians lose their lives after years of financial struggles because the Union does not put measures to enhance its members’ welfare.

“MUSIGA is like the empty barrel that makes that kind of noise without any water in it. I am talking as an eye witness and as somebody who has gone down to serve in the lowest levels.

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“The Union is weak, the structures are weak, so our members are also weak. Not only the legends [are weak but] all the musicians because we have no one defending us [and] seeking our welfare,” he lamented.

In an interview on Showbiz Review on Hitz FM, Wednesday, Ras Caleb blamed the national leadership of MUSIGA for the poor states of many musicians, citing the death of late Highlife legend, Nana Ampadu, as an example.

“When you’re sick, and you don’t let people know, you won’t be healed. For how long will the government be supporting the Union to stand on its feet?

“MUSIGA can not fight for its members. We wait till someone is dead before we begin putting pressure on the presidency and companies,” he added.

According to him, he was following the summit keenly and realised that Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) and Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) have no interest to push the industry forward.

Talking about problems associated with the music royalties system in Ghana, Stonebwoy said musicians were tired because there aren’t any innovative ideas popping up from the music authorities, most importantly, GHAMRO.

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Immediately the VGMA National Music Summit ended, Stonebwoy took to his Twitter platform to register his concern, saying:

Following the National Music Summit yesterday @Ghamro_official keeps repeating the same excuses.. We are tired! Uncle Rex and uncle Abraham. Our back is against the wall o.. and as for The State of #Musigha dier SAD Kwraaah!!

Since 2019, the union has not been able to hold elections to select new leaders after the tenure of Bice Osei Kufour popularly known as Obour expired.

MUSIGA was dragged to court by one of its presidential aspirants, Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi, alleging irregularities regarding the election process.

The plaintiff had served as Accra Regional Chairman of MUSIGA during Obour’s administration.

An Accra High Court in 2019 placed an interim injunction on the national elections by the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA).

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Though the case was dismissed by the court in March 2021, Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi was willing to go further to halt the intended elections.

The agitations within the Union led President Akufo-Addo, in 2020, to task Mark Okraku-Mantey, who was then President of the Creative Arts Council, to ensure that the long-standing internal Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) legal tussle gets resolved.

After a number of meetings Mark Okraku-Mantey held with interested parties together with arbitrators, and with the help of Tourisim, Arts and Culture Minister, Dr Awal Mohammed, a consensus was reached.

Last week, feuding members agreed to put aside their differences and tabled modalities ahead of the election.

Present at the fruitful meeting were Bessa Simons, Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi,  Diana Hopeson, Lawyer Kingsley Amoakwah, Perppy Tsahay, Deborah Freeman, Ahuma Bosco Ocansey, Getrude Boamah and other key members.

The leadership of MUSIGA is expected to announce the date for their election soon.

The campaign includes the release of a song, its music video and video messages by Ghanaian artistes and other influential personalities to educate many on Coronavirus and its vaccines.

The song features Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) 2020 Songwriter of the Year and International Organisation for Migration Ambassador, Kofi Kinaata; VGMA Gospel Song of the Year winner, Celestine Donkor; the Golden Voice of Africa, Pat Thomas and multiple award-winning artiste, Amandzeba.

Other artistes on the song include veteran highlife singer, Adane Best; ace SDA songsmith, Samuel Kofi Agyemang, and singer Paulina Oduro.

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According to the acting MUSIGA President, Bessa Simons, the campaign is the Union’s contribution to the fight against COVID-19 and its impact on Ghana.

He indicated that the campaign began with the support from the Ministry of Information to record the song, the music video and video messages, adding that, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation also helped to finalise the material.

Watch the video below:

Watch below some of the video messages from personalities such as Minister of Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Reverend Dr Thomas Yawson, singer Sherifa Gunu and actor Aluta.

Bessa Simons said the concert is to appreciate Mr Rawlings for his contribution to the music and creative arts industry.

“You know because of the pandemic, we couldn’t do what we wanted to do for Mr Rawlings. He has done so much for the creative arts industry that we want to let the world know what he has done so that other people can emulate.

“The musicians show people what we have, even people come to this country, they want to know our culture, our music, our food and everything, he was a president who was always pushing for that,” he told JoyNews’ Doreen Avio.

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According to Mr Simons, the former President supported the creative arts industry and even provided the current office for MUSIGA .

“Our office that we are using now was given to us by President Rawlings, so we want to show appreciation. This concert is going to be a virtual one depending on how the pandemic is going,” he said.

Mr Rawlings died on November 12, 2020, aged 73 after a short illness.

Watch the video below:

According to Obour, MUSIGA is missing out on a lot of things, especially from the corporate world where it does most of its business because of its inability to elect new leadership.

“We do business with most of these corporate organisations and for us not to have had elections to elect a president, it does not speak well of the entire union.

“How does anyone take us seriously? We need to have the elections as soon as possible. Enough of the back and forth at the court,” Obour told the Graphic Showbiz in an interview recently.

Obour said the lack of elections does not bode well for MUSIGA because it fuels the doubts that musicians have.

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Asked what is being done to bring some closure to the situation, Obour said all past presidents have met on several occasions about the same issue and are taking measures to deal with it.

“Trust me, by June or July this year, MUSIGA election will be held and a new leader will finally be elected. One of the aspirants, Ras Levi Appiah Caleb, took MUSIGA to court and we asked for an out of court settlement.

“But we find ourselves back in court again because Ras is not okay with the answers he got. But we are so sure that by June or July this year, the elections will be held,” he said.

As elections have not been held to elect a president, as well as other leaders, Obour could have still been in office, enjoying all the benefits that came with the presidency but he says he stepped down because he is a noble man.

“So far as elections have not been held yet, I could still have been the president but because I am a noble man and I want transparency, I stepped down for the interim committee to select an acting president for MUSIGA who is Bessa Simons,” he said.

Elections for new MUSIGA executive members were to have been held in July 2019 but a presidential candidate, Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi got an Accra High Court to place an injunction on the polls, citing anomalies.

He claimed there should have been a voters’ register for each region but the Electoral Commission presented only one album which also had some names missing.

He also raised concerns about the registration of people, some of which were not musicians, beyond the deadline.

Although he agreed to settle the case out of court initially, Ras Levi took the case to court again last week.

According to him, he wants the Union to stand firm, hence the need to go to the court of law to seek redress for what he described as an unconstitutional election.

The seasoned Ghanaian reggae musician said he placed an injunction on the election held by the Union because things were done wrongly per its constitution.

In an interview on Joy News’ Showbiz A to Z Saturday, he said the Union cannot be engaged because the MUSIGA constitution was not used to conduct election.

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“In 2018, we said that instead of a congress, every card bearing member could vote, then we have the National and Regional elections on the same date so why are we having the national election before having regional election?” he quizzed.  

“We were in Cape Coast in October, 2018 in a conference to review and validate the constitution. The constitution was reviewed but not validated,” he added.

He further explained that during former MUSIGA president, Bice Osei Kuffuor’s tenure, his stepping down was wrong because elections were to be held that same month [August].

“The timing of Obuor’s resignation was wrong. He knew his time in office will expire in August 2019 but he never resigned.

“I went to court for the first time on July 9 and while the case was in court, then you come hiding behind so-called National Executive Council to say you have resigned,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ras Appiah-Levi, has rejected an out-of-court settlement with the Union.

The union, which said the attack was a direct threat to the safety of Kelvyn Boy, called on the management of both Stonebwoy and Kelvyn Boy to cease fire and settle things amicably.

The Director of Communication and Special Projects at MUSIGA, Ahuma Bosco Ocansey (Daddy Bosco), in an interview with Beatwaves, bemoaned the escalation of physical attacks and indiscipline among Ghanaian artistes, especially, dancehall artistes.

According to him, a lot of people, including music fans, see Ghanaian artistes as role models so they need to discipline themselves when they attend social events.

He, therefore, advised Kelvyn Boy to desist from throwing jabs at Stonebwoy, whom he once worked with.

Daddy Bosco called on both parties (Stonebwoy and Kelvyn Boy) to sit down and resolve the misunderstanding between them to avoid another brawl in future.

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On his part, the president of MUSIGA, Bessa Simons, warned that any member of the union who engages in any activity that seeks to undermine the image of the union would be dealt with.

“Any member of MUSIGA who misbehaves will be referred to the disciplinary and arbitration committee and they will be dealt with according to our constitution. Afterward, they will be referred to our National Executive Council, who will then decide on which type of sanction,” he declared.

Reports indicate the incident, which occurred around 7:pm on Thursday, June 18, 2020, has reduced the complex into ashes.

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Property worth over thousands of cedis were lost to the incident which occurred in Kumasi as nothing was saved.

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Photos of the incident captured personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service inspecting the facility.

Watch the photos below:

The plaintiff is the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the union, Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi.

The four others are acting MUSIGA President, Mr Henry Bessa Simons, Acting 1st Vice President Rev. Dr Thomas Harry Yawson, National Treasurer and Acting Administrator, Mr Samuel Kofi Agyeman and Ahuma Bosco Ocansey, Director of Communications and Special Projects.

A statement issued by Mr Appiah-Levi, who doubles as an aspiring President, alleges that the administration elected to steer affairs of the union were not transparent whatsoever, adding they left office without handing over notes.

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Consequently, he finds it prudent to request for a forensic audit and accountability of the administration of the former MUSIGA president.

This is in account of the administration’s leadership of service at MUSIGA from 2011 to date.

This was confirmed by MUSIGA’s current treasurer, Mr Samuel Kofi Agyemang, who explained that, the money is yet-to-be received by the Union due to closure of Midland Savings and Loans, where the investment was made under the signatory of Obour.

Midland Savings and Loans was part of the 23 savings and loans and finance house companies which licenses were revoked by the Bank of Ghana last year.

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Due to that, payments of claims have been issued to the current President Bessa Simons to make way for effective payment through the Consolidated Bank Ghana as soon as possible.

Read document below:

Adomonline.com‘s checks indicate that apart from this amount invested with Midland Savings and Loans, MUSIGA during Obour’s tenure also invested some money at Menzgold and other financial institutions.

Obour, whose tenure ended on August 11, 2019, came under heavy criticisms during his administration where many industry players accused him of misappropriating funds.

But speaking to Lexis Bill on Joy FM, Obour insisted that the two million cedis government support fund from the National Democratic Congress was used to conduct a comprehensive research for the players in the Music Industry and for the organisation of the Ghana Music Week.

Meanwhile, Bessa Simon’s appointment was confirmed at a meeting on Friday, August 30.

MUSIGA’s National Executive Council also appointed former Second Vice President, Rev. Dr Thomas Yawson as Acting First Vice President of MUSIGA. 

Ras Caleb said he had to place the injunction on the election which was scheduled for Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the High Court because the processes have been fraught with a lot of inconsistencies.

A statement released by the aspirant said should the group fail to address the inconsistencies in the electoral processes they were likely to cause chaos in the elections.

“There are so many abnormalities in MUSIGA’s voters’ register and the way they want the elections to be conducted.  If it was a national election with all the regions partaking, there should have been a regional album from all the regions for MUSIGA to present a list of members of all the regions,” the release noted.

“They’ve added everything in one album which makes it difficult for a person to know where their names are even though it’s in alphabetical order,” he added.

Ras Caleb has, therefore, urged the electoral body of MUSIGA to abide by the electoral principles of the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure accuracy.

“Another thing is that any card-bearing member can vote anywhere; that is if I registered in Accra and I find myself in Tamale I can just go and vote which is wrong because in the national voting exercise you vote where you get registered,” the statement noted.

Meanwhile, the aspirant has also alleged on Hitz FM’s morning show, DayBreak Hitz, that everything going on is an attempt to rig the election in a particular candidate’s favour.

Below is the full statement

Source: Adomonline.com|Nana Aba Mensah

He mentioned highlife musician, Kojo Antwi, as an example of a respected personality whose position within GHMARO nearly caused him his hard-earned reputation as a music legend in Ghana.
“When Kojo Antwi was with GHAMRO, there were a lot of things that could’ve tarnished his legacy. This is a much-respected man but because he got involved, his legacy was almost tarnished,” the rapper asserted.
Also read: Video/Photos: Hundreds mob Flowking Stone at Kumasi Mall
Kojo Antwi served as Chairman of GHAMRO from 2015 to 2017.
Flowking Stone, however, pleaded with Ghanaians to give such leaders the necessary support to enable them execute the herculean task before them.
The rapper, born Kwaku Nsiah-Boama, also indicated in the interview that he will only contest for a role such as MUSIGA President after he achieves his dreams as a musician.