ASSOGHAM "L" holds first general meeting

A new association of musicians in Ghana has been launched with a vow to safeguard the welfare and financial independence of its members.

Registered as a non-governmental organizations(NGO), the Association of Ghana Music Legends (ASSOGHAM "L"), says it will fix the deficiencies within the existing musician's unions.

Addressing the first general meeting of the group on Wednesday, August 5, 2020 in Accra, the Interim President of ASSOGHAM "L" , Mr Desmond Ababio said the group was informally established in January 2020 to provide financial assistance for a colleague musician who had fallen ill.

Benefits

Mr Ababio assured that all ASSOGHAM "L" members will be signed onto social security and other insurance packages which will cater for them in their time of need.

He said: "We have over 600 members across the world but only about 250 are in good standing. We are basically operating as an NGO which comes to the aid of musicians in need.

"We feel the monies Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) gives the family of its deceased members are not enough, the GHS 500 is not enough. At least GHS 3,000 must be given to the wife and family of our members. Also, we have started discussions to acquire a group insurance for our members".

He explained that all Ghanaian musicians could join ASSOGHAM "L" by purchasing a registration form at a cost of GHS 50.

"All members must pay dues of GHS 30 and welfare of GHS 20 and that is how we are going to be funding most of our initiatives.

"We are also in discussions with the public health hospitals in Accra to subscribe our members to free healthcare wether they have an NHIS card or not. I am sure if ASSOGHAM had started early we would have been able to support our members during the COVID-19 pandemic.".

Transparency

Reacting to concerns about accountability which has plagued unions in the country, the Interim Vice President of ASSOGHAM, Mr George K. Abban Junior, assured that the association will publish its audited financial statements every four months.

He stressed that the financial statements will also be available on request by any member of the association.

Reactions

A member of the association, Mr Gyedu-Blay Ambolley urged the leadership of ASSOGHAM to abide by the laws and structures governing the association.

He also urged all the members to be sincere about the roles and contributions they make to the association.

"This is something that should have happened a long time ago but it is not late. Our contribution to this world is music so we must be concerned about how we are going to enhance it to the benefit of ourselves and our families".