Bessa Simons speaking at the launch
As part of its efforts to fight the spread of COVID-19, the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) has officially launched a campaign to create awareness about the pandemic through music and video messages.
The song features artistes such as Kofi Kinaata, Celestine Donkor, Pat Thomas, Amandzeba, Adane and Samuel Kofi Agyemang.
The campaign song with its accompanying video is being aired on some selected radio and television stations. It is also available online on the social media handles of the celebrities and the two partner organisations.
The campaign is a collaboration between MUSIGA and the Creative Arts Council, with support from UNESCO and ECOWAS under the supervision of the National Commission on Culture (NCC).
Speaking at the launch held at the Accra Tourist Centre, the UNESCO Head of Office in Ghana, Mr. Abdoulrahmane Diallo, highlighted the power of culture and the creative arts in leading change initiatives.
He commended MUSIGA and the Creative Arts Council for the initiative and advised all celebrities to champion the fight against the pandemic by using their social media handles to drive the campaign.
The Executive Director of NCC, Madam Janet Edna Nyame, on her part, assured the two organisations of her outfits support to ensure a successful campaign.
She said, “The support from UNESCO to the commission and our affiliated organisations to combat the ravages of COVID-19 is indeed very welcome. There is the need to educate our people on how to prevent the virus from spreading.”
The ECOWAS Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Baba Gana Wakil, also commended the two organisations for participating in the campaign, which is the first such initiative jointly supported by ECOWAS and UNESCO in the sub-region to combat the pandemic.
President of MUSIGA, Bessa Simons, indicated that the union is committed to using music as a tool for advocacy and cited the union’s work in advocacy over the years.
He admonished Ghanaians to continue observing all the protocols enumerated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the fight against COVID-19.
On his part, the former Chief Operating Officer of the Creative Arts Council, Frank Owusu, applauded UNESCO and ECOWAS for their support and also commended the celebrities who participated in the project for availing themselves for the project.
The campaign involves a song, music video and video messages by musicians, produced by MUSIGA, and video messages featuring celebrities, produced by the Creative Arts Council.
By George Clifford Owusu