Bessa Simons
Acting President of Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Mr. Bessa Simons, has stated that the organisation has improved the welfare of its members and is on the strong path to do exploits in the coming years.
According to Bessa Simons, MUSIGA has designed numerous insurance packages that have been secured for the members of the association as well as streamlining policies that would ensure a proper royalty system for the music industry.
He said, “I sometimes get surprised when I hear people saying MUSGA is weak and cannot stand on its feet again. MUSIGA is not weak, we’ve always been strong over the past years, thus putting in place policies for its growth.”
Mr. Simons revealed that the only difficulty has to do with installing a proper royalty system that would be beneficial to all, and the organisation is streamlining its activities to make the system very strong.
“MUSIGA as an organisation has accomplished a lot of successes over the past year, especially during the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic where we catered for the aged. The organisation under my leadership has prioritised the welfare of the aged for a long time. That is why we have a welfare fund that has taken care of them for a very long time making donations across the country,” he pointed out.
Mr. Simons added that the organisation has partnered with the State Insurance Company (SIC) for MUSIGA members, which would take care of them in case of any emergency, adding, “some members have started benefiting already.”
According to the acting President of MUSIGA, the decision of the union to engage with SIC Life to provide this support for the members was made to cater for their welfare in these challenging times.
The package of benefits for the members includes compensation for permanent incapacitation or injuries, critical illnesses or members who lose their spouses.
“Other benefits include the paying of hospital bills for musicians who get admitted at the hospital and those whose spouse also get sick and admitted. When a member of your family dies, that musician would also be given GH¢5,000,” he added.
He, therefore, took the opportunity to advise his colleague musicians to sign up for the welfare insurance policy to ensure that their needs are met in a timely manner in times of difficulties.
Speaking on the forthcoming MUSIGA Elections dated January 12, 2022, Bessa Simons who has the ambition of becoming the MUSIGA President, said his main focus would be on the capacity building of members on issues regarding the music business.
“We are going to have a lot of capacity-building workshops by bringing onboard experts to put in place the right royalty system. I am poised in making the lives of our musicians better,” he said.
He promised to work hard to improve the living standards of members, adding he would use his expertise in the business field to assist Ghanaian musicians to find their feet in the industry.
Bessa Simons continued that he would work hard to provide international exchange programmes for Ghanaian musicians as well as implement a minimum wage policy to financially secure musicians.