The first ever Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) Grand Ball has been set for Friday, November 25 at the Banquet Hall, State House. The event which promises to be an evening of unforgettable entertainment is aimed at raising funds to rebuild the music industry. Proceeds from the prestigious event will help set up a fund, the MUSIGA Music Development Fund (MIDF). The fund will help execute programs aimed at putting in place structures to make the business of music worthwhile and will ultimately help the Ghanaian music industry attract the needed investments. Key areas the fund will assist include artistes and talent development, music business education and ICT, and the establishment of record labels to help market Ghanaian music globally. In the long term, MUSIGA hopes to set up Music Industry Development Centres (MIDC) in all MUSIGA regional offices to provide information and other assistance to musicians in the various regions. Bice Osei Kuffour popularly known as Obour, MUSIGA president told Myjoyonline.com in an interview Tuesday that the ball is aimed at giving “the business community a chance to get entertained and also to raise some money for the music industry in Ghana.” According to him, although musicians generally independently make some money from their works, “the music industry due to the absence of structures that are required to make the industry function, is making the industry poor – the prevalence of piracy, the absence of a proper copyright management systems, explains why the music industry is in shackles.” The night will witness exciting performances from Efya; K.K. Fosu; Paulina Oduro; Paapa Yankson; Nana Ampadu; Rex Omar; A.B. Crentsil; Obour; No Tribe; Becca; Daddy Lumba; Samini and Amakye Dede. Jazz music will also be provided by Steve Bedi, backed by the Shabbo Band. There will be a live auction of antique musical instruments (including some instruments first used by some popular musicians) which will be spear-headed by Chester Annie and comedian, Funny Face. MUSIGA hopes to raise GH¢500,000 from the ball as seed money for the fund; GH¢1 million in the long term.