Mass resignations hit MUSIGA

Painstaking investigations by BEATWAVES have revealed that a large number of members of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) have resigned from the union, accusing the musicians’ body of neglecting them.

BEATWAVES gathered that over 150 musicians in the Central and Brong Ahafo regions a few weeks ago announced their decision to quit MUSIGA due to lack of transparency and professionalism in the running of affairs in the union.

In an interview, some of the musicians revealed that for many years, they have struggled to better the music industry of Ghana, they have always been with union through thick and thin and have worked tirelessly for a positive change in the union.

The concerned members in a statement announced their defection from MUSIGA to the Musicians and Dancers Association of Ghana (MUDAG), to help address their challenges.
Although MUSIGA came out quickly to deny that none of its members in the Central Region had resigned from the union, BEATWAVES’ investigations confirmed that a lot of the members had resigned from MUSIGA.

“We have defected from the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) to the Musicians and Dancers Association of Ghana (MUDAG) which is a member of the Music Council of Ghana of the International Music Council of UNESCO and subsequently cease to be members of MUSIGA,” the statement said.

They claimed that executives of MUSIGA are “not ready at all to hear our cry,” and that “it is sad to note that vibrant members who are not popular are not counted among the lot. Secondly those in the rural and the remote areas are not recognized in any activity and service of the union.”
They accused national executives of MUSIGA of remunerating themselves from GHc500.00 to GHc2,800.00 monthly without thinking of the welfare of the members.

They further lamented that their neglect could be the result of the fact that most of them are unpopular and geographically dislocated, adding, “Music is not about only those who sing and are popular but consider the song writers, the composers, instrumentalists, sound engineers, producers among the lot, therefore, we believe all must be recognized.”

The concerned musicians were of the view that MUDAG has well organized structures which will help polish the music and dance industries “and help most of us realize our dreams”.