Akosua Agyapong
Ghanaian highlife legend Akosua Agyapong has expressed disappointment over the low turnout of musicians at meetings organised by the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA).
Speaking during a Time with MUSIGA Executives meeting, Akosua Agyapong said attendance at such meetings is crucial because it is where issues affecting the union are discussed and solutions are found.
She lamented that although MUSIGA has a large membership, only a few members show up for important engagements, a situation she said does not speak well of the union.
Touching on welfare and payment of dues, she urged musicians to take their membership seriously and support the union’s initiatives.
“Our music cannot be sustained without our own support because we are under MUSIGA. If you are a musician, I beg you, let’s be together and support the union so that money will come in and we will be taken care of,” she said.
Akosua Agyapong noted that welfare support, including the recent disbursement to some members, is only possible when musicians pay their dues and contribute to the union’s growth.
“If we are all here and we are paying our dues and supporting the good things we are doing, next time it will be [GH¢]30,000 and not [GH¢]18,000. This is our welfare. They are taking care of us,” she indicated.
Akosua Agyapong also called on young and upcoming artistes not to ignore the union because of current trends, such as making money from TikTok, stressing that music careers go beyond social media fame.
“Young ones think they are always young. They think money from TikTok will go on forever. One day it will go off, but music will not go off. So, let’s support MUSIGA,” she said.
She further proposed that musicians who have served for decades, particularly those aged 60 and above, should be supported with incentives such as cars to aid their movement.
The veteran musician urged members to mobilise more colleagues for future meetings and to stay united for the progress of the union.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke