Rev. Thomas Yawson
The leadership of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) says preparations are far advanced to launch an insurance policy to cater for the welfare of its members throughout the country.
The union indicated that the initiative which will be launched in Accra by close of the first quarter is to provide support for the members confronted with difficult situations in case of a crisis or incapacity.
Though the union did not state the date and venue for the launch, it however revealed that the insurance policy has been drafted with support from the State Insurance Company (SIC).
The move, BEATWAVES gathered, was necessitated due to the fact that Ghanaian musicians who are not covered by any risk measures are not salaried workers, but rather ply their trade mostly on a contract and seasonal basis, hence the insurance policy.
The acting President of MUSIGA, Bessa Simons, in an interview mentioned that for members of the union to benefit from the insurance package, they would have to subscribe at a fee of GH¢50.00 per year.
This, he said, would entitle the member to a package of benefits which includes compensation for permanent incapacitation or injuries, critical illnesses or members who lose their spouses.
Bessa Simons stressed that most of the aged musicians who are not in active music business are currently living in deplorable conditions which are seriously affecting their productivity, and therefore there was the need to put in place an insurance package for them.
He indicated that the scheme was to help cushion members financially in times of difficulty.
“All along MUSIGA as a union hasn’t got any strong welfare policies which will stand the test of time to be able to help mitigate difficulties that happen in the lives of the musician that belong to this group.
“So we went to meet with the State Insurance Company (SIC) and came up with an agreement with them to help insure all the musicians in Ghana that belong to MUSIGA,” he told Amansan Krakye on Kastle FM.
He hinted some of the benefits include the paying of hospital bills for musicians who get admitted at the hospital and those whose spouse also get hospitalised. “When a member of your family dies, that musician would also be given GH¢5,000,” Mr. Simons added.
By George Clifford Owusu