MUSIGA at 50: Ras Caleb's Perspective on How Ghana's Musicians Union Lost Its Way

THE MUSIGA (GHANAN MUSICIANS UNION) STORY: RAS CALEB APPIAH-LEVI HISTORY When the late Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong, the greatest performer in the world at the time, visited Ghana in 1957, the concept to create the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) was born. In November 1975, the Registrar General's Department formally registered the Musicians Union of Ghana as a Private Company Limited by Guarantee.

The Executive Council was the name of the Union's Board of Directors in accordance with MUSIGA statutes. The Executive Council's original members were: Mr. Faisal Helwani, musician and entrepreneur Mr. Jerry William Hansen, entrepreneur and musician Director of Music, Ghana Armed Forces, Burma Camp, Major Robert Budu-Larbi, musician Entrepreneur and musician Augustine Emmanuel Kofi-Aryitey AppiahMr. Stan Plange, musician and owner of Black Star Line Ghana Limited Mr. Dan Quarcoo, musician and entrepreneur Mr. Harry Munzalas, reporter for the Ghana News Agency Mr. Francis Ackah, entrepreneur Musician Mr. Sammy Odoh According to Section 202 of the Code, the Executive Council's authority was constrained. Its members' liability was likewise restricted.

Since then, MUSIGA has changed significantly. The MUSIGA chapters have closed and reopened as a result of Ghana's transformation under several governments and leaderships. Ghanaian musicians started organizing collectively and improving their image in 1975. In Accra, a MUSIGA office was set up at the Community Center next to Baiden Powell Hall and Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum Memorial Park. Although this development helped MUSIGA advance at first, it quickly waned.

Under the direction of Chairman Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, the PNDC administration recognized the importance of music for the advancement of the country and provided substantial assistance to revive and restructure MUSIGA. The Musiga Presidents' Chronology From 1975 to 1978, Mr. Jerry William Hansen Eddie Quansah, Mr.: 1978–1979 From 1979 to 1989, Mr. Daniel Kwabena Boa-Amponsem (Agya Koo Nimo)

Odomankoma Ghanaba Kyerema Kofi: 1989–1992 From 1992 till 1999, Mr. Joe Mensah 1999–2007: Alhaji Sidiku Buari Diana Hopeson, Mrs.: 2007–2011 Bice Obour, Mr. Kuffour, Osei: 2011–2019 Mr. Henry Bessa Simons: From 2019 to the Present: Retrospection A group of well-known Ghanaian musicians organized an interim board of directors in 1989. The Interim Board One, which was chaired by Odomankoma Kyerema Kofi Ghanaba, the Divine Drummer, and consisted of Alhaji Sidiku Buari, Mr. Rex Boateng, Mr. Jerry Lartey, and Nana Kwame Ampadu-1st, was charged with assembling musicians for a National Congress in order to choose permanent executives to manage the Union's operations.

Unexpected events necessitated a reconstitution, which resulted in Interim Board Two. Mr. Jerry Lartey, Ms. Asabea Crooper, Mr. Joe Mensah, Nana Kwame Ampadu-1st as General Secretary, and Odomankoma Kyerema Kofi Ghanaba as Chairman continued to serve. Chairman Jerry John Rawlings kept a careful eye on these Boards' development. Ghanaian musicians were successfully gathered by the Interim Board Two to take part in a National Congress for the purpose of choosing their Executive Officers.

The Centre for National Culture (Cultural Centre) in Kumasi hosted MUSIGA's inaugural National Congress on December 4, 1992. Under INEC's supervision, Mr. Joe Mensah was elected President, followed by Mr. Jerry Lartey as Treasurer, Ms. Asabea Crooper as Second Vice President, Alhaji Sidiku Buari as First Vice President, Nana Kwame Ampadu-1 as General Secretary, and Mr. Mensah Oheneba Oppong Kyekyeku as Welfare Officer. PERFORMANCES The "Peace and Stability Concert," a sizable musical event held at Accra's Kwame Nkrumah Circle on the eve of the Fourth Republic, was MUSIGA's first significant gift to Ghana. Until the wee hours of January 7, 1993, the day of the Fourth Republic's inauguration, the free concert went on. After the performance, the audience moved on toAt the inaugural event, the audience moved to Osu's Independence Square. In order to encourage the Togolese refugees and bring attention to their predicament, MUSIGA arranged a benefit concert for them in 1993. On October 2, 1993, a sold-out crowd attended another historic benefit concert at the National Theatre in Accra for the sick King of Highlife, Dr. E.T. Mensah.

PNDC Law 110 The PNDC administration passed the Copyright Law 110 in reaction to the hardships faced by musicians, greatly bolstering their rights. MUSIGA has expressed its thanks for the significant changes this law has brought about in the lives of artists and music makers. In 1992, MUSIGA hosted a free public concert called "Ayekoo Tsoboi" to commemorate this statute. On December 18, 1992, MUSIGA hosted a concert called "PANAFEST '92" in Independence Square in Osu-Accra in cooperation with the National Commission on Culture and the PANAFEST Secretariat. With the Comforters Band providing backup, Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi (Charlie Buck-Levi) kicked off the event with a 35-minute performance. Veteran MC David Dontoh hosted the event.

TO BE CONTINUED Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi, author, has been a part of MUSIGA since June 1982. 9, Chesterfield CL, GA-097-4538, Kpehe-Accra, Accra, Ghana, West Africa, P.O. Box GP 1161 WhatsApp: (+233-27) 5862452; email: panafricaghana.musiquegroup@gmail.com; cell: (+233-24) 4934097