One of Ghana’s renowned tour managers and poets, Kwame Agyemang Berko, has waded into the impasse among the current executives of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA). 

‘Kwame Rasta’, who has also managed Tinny, Obrafuor, Becca and Afriyie, expressed his angst at what he described as ‘the mess’ at the musicians’ body.

He made this known while contributing to a discussion on the developments at MUSIGA on Showbiz A-Z on Joy FM with Naa Ashorkor last Saturday.

In response to a question posed by Naa Ashorkor, he intoned “Naa, the current state of affairs at the foremost art/musicians welfare body stinks.” 

“Lives of the aged musicians and careers of upcoming artistes are at stake whenever this reoccurring event of power struggle rears its head during the election of national officers. Why?”

The Accra High Court will on October 14, commence hearing on the suit filed by Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi against MUSIGA, over the conduct of National Executive Committee elections.

Ras Caleb, who is the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the Union, was not happy about the election roadmap, especially on the credibility of the voters’ register published by MUSIGA.

Ras Caleb joined the conversation in the studio at the tail end of the show and had to agree with Kwame’s frustrations. 

Kwame further mused, “…currently, Nigerian Musician Mr Eazi’s emPawa Africa crusade, headquartered in Accra, employs and pays salaries of a workforce that numbers more than what the entire musicians’ union has on payroll. Why Naa?

“If we ourselves do not stem this tide of the mess [then] quickly, the Union stands the risk of extinction. A-List artistes have always found it unattractive and reluctant to join the Union. This current state further alienates it and we’d all be none the wiser at the end of the day,” he concluded. 

Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi and Bessa Simons

First Vice President of MUSIGA, Bessa Simons has, however, been appointed as acting President by the Union’s National Executive Council (NEC). 

Bessa Simons’ appointment was confirmed at a meeting on Friday, August 30 and he is expected to lead the body until the national executive elections take place.

The NEC also appointed former Second Vice President, Rev. Dr Thomas Yawson as acting First Vice President in this interim period. 

This follows the end of the tenure of the Bice Osei Kuffour aka Obour, which ended on August 11, 2019.

Ras Caleb, who was at the meeting, has made a u-turn disclosing that he is not happy about Bessa’s appointment.

According to him, it was unconstitutional for the National Executive Committee to have appointed Bessa Simons whose tenure of office has technically expired too.

He said he is currently considering legal action on the matter.