Abena Ruthy, the second Vice President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), has outlined some initiatives the association is embarking on to help improve the lives of its members.
Speaking to Kwame Dadzie on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z, Abena mentioned that MUSIGA has for the past years, paid critical attention to the welfare of its members.
She noted that apart from the usual welfare contributions they do, they also have a group insurance policy with SIC Life.
According to the ‘Lala’ singer, the aged in the union, do not pay insurance premiums by themselves.
“For the elderly ones, they don’t even pay [their premiums]. MUSIGA pays for them. So members of the Ageing Musicians Welfare Fund (AMWeF), they are not the ones that pay for their insurance. MUSIGA pays for them.
We sign them on automatically. Once you clock 60 years, you automatically won’t pay for your insurance. MUSIGA will do that for you,” she said.
She explained that MUSIGA’s partnership agreement with SIC Life allows their members to have insurance packages by paying 100 cedis as premium.
She added that the Ageing Musicians Welfare Fund which was instituted during tenure of Bice ‘Obour’ Osei Kuffour, is still active.
She said this fund is raised through events they organise and donations from individuals.
“It was the MUSIGA Grand Ball that was previously used to fund it but we haven’t had it for some time now.
Last year, when we had Ghana Music Month in March, we had a highlife concert as +233 Jazz Bar and Grill. There, we raised funds and we used that for the coffers. This year we are going to do same,” she noted.
MUSIGA was founded on December 9, 1975, with the primary objective of uniting musicians under a single organization to safeguard their rights, advance their interests, and advance the Ghanaian music business.