A scene from the presentation ceremony
KFC Ghana has partnered Vida Café to donate items worth ¢15,000 to the aged in the creative arts industry.
The items donated included bags of rice, boxes of cooking oil and tin tomatoes among others.
KFC and Vida Café said the donation formed part of their corporate social responsibilities.
Present at the presentation ceremony were Barbara Oteng Gyasi, the Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture; Bessa Simons, the Acting President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) and Mark Okraku-Mantey, President of the Creative Arts Council.
Other personalities who graced the ceremony were former MUSIGA President, Diana Hopeson; administrator of MUSIGA, Juliet Asante; Secretary of the National Film Authority, Pat Thomas; Dela Hayes, Ahuma Bosco Ocansey and Dr Mary Ghana
Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs Oteng Gyasi commended KFC and Vida Café for their support and willingness to help the industry, especially at a time their businesses had also suffered a setback due to the coronavirus (Covid-19).
According to her, the impact of the Covid-19 on the aged was severe, adding, “We appreciate what companies are doing for the creative arts industry.”
“We want to take the steps to support the current people so they don’t go through what the aged went through; so they can take care of themselves in future,” the minister said.
She called on other institutions to help the industry while her ministry worked on getting proper structures in place.
The minister said “we are working on an insurance policy for practitioners in the industry. The current artiste and generations to come will need the necessary support in the future.”
Mrs Oteng Gyasi said she was hoping for a better 2020 but unfortunately Covid-19 had not made things easy and advised industry players to make use of the virtual space.
On his part, Mr Okraku-Mantey also thanked KFC and Vida Café for supporting the industry during the pandemic.
He also pleaded that institutions should not only focus on musicians but actors as well and other sectors of the Creative Arts industry.
Bessa Simons indicated that the union launched an appeal so that its members, especially the veterans, could get help during the pandemic.
Bessa Simons said his outfit would make sure the aged in other parts of the country also received the support they needed.