MUSIGA launches fund for ageing musicians

The Musicians Union of Ghana (Musiga) on Friday August 9, 2013 launched its flagship Welfare Fund for Ageing Musician (AMWeF) at the Golden Tulip Hotel, amidst heavy patronage by the media and veteran musicians.

In his speech Musiga President Obour stated the objectives of AMWeF as: “to register and organize members of MUSIGA 60years and above, for a common purpose with regards to their welfare; to register and establish a database of musicians who have become incapacitated during their musical lives and; to register all targeted beneficiaries with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).”


Other objectives, he said, include: “to assist musicians financially or in kind during severe illness or death and to compile their musical works and market them to support the artistes and the Fund”.


In her keynote address, the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare advised musicians to take savings as a priority during their younger and active years, and also to ensure they contribute to pension/insurance schemes to ensure smooth life in their later ages.


Four major companies associated with the launch made various presentations. In her presentation, Esther Love Amegavi, Corporate Sales Manager at Tecno Mobile, stated that Tecno is in the process of creating a special software application on Tecno Phones where the public could download songs by veteran musicians as part of the company’s initiative to support the Fund.


Mr. Joe Ampem-Darko Antwi, Communications Manager at AshFoam reiterated the company’s advanced plans to work with Musiga on several events and other innovative activations including creating a TV show dubbed: “Know Your Musician”.

Clarence Amenyah, Marketing Manager of Kasapreko Co. Ltd announced his outfit’s planned Nationwide Tour in partnership with Musiga dubbed ‘GH. Veterans Tour”, expected to visit major cities in Ghana to promote the brand, indigenous Ghanaian music, as well as raise funds to support AMWeF. Alexander Twumasi, Head of Special Markets at Starlife Assurance said: “aside our support for AMWeF Launch, StarLife has reached an agreement with Musiga to start a special Life Insurance Policy for Ghanaian musicians in general”.


There were splendid live band performances by Kofi Sammi, Nana Ampadu, Kaakyire Kwame Appiah, K.K Fosu, Noble Nketsiah and Tagoe Sisters.


The immediate past President of Musiga- Diana Hopeson; Ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor; Chief Godfred Medicine and Theresah Ayiode, Director at Charterhouse, are among Executive Patrons of the Fund, which is being managed by the First Banc Group. It is enshrined in the policy that successive leaderships of the Union are to continue build or grow the fund to support the purpose for which it has been established.


The simplest way to contribute to the Fund, Obour said: “is to sms the word “AMWeF” to the short code 1962 on all networks to contribute one Cedi to the Fund”. A


lso, the fund is expected to grow through donations, fundraising activities, Investments, sales of branded souvenirs etc. According to Musiga, members shall not pay any form of dues or fees.