MUSIGA@50 celebration launched in Accra

The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) has launched its Golden Jubilee celebration with a call on Ghanaian musicians to rally behind the union to build their capacities and offer professional guidance and support for the growth of the industry.

Speaking at the media launch held at the Accra Tourist Information Centre (ATIC) in Accra yesterday, November 7, the President of MUSIGA, Bessa Simons noted that there was no musician without MUSIGA. 

Hence, musicians must support MUSIGA to promote and preserve Ghanaian culture through education, equipping Ghanaian musicians to be self-reliant, creative, and industrious.

“By supporting MUSIGA, musicians will benefit from various initiatives aimed at improving their welfare and promoting the growth of the music industry,” he stated. 

MUSIGA was founded on December 9, 1975 to advocate for musicians' rights, advance the music industry, and preserve Ghana's musical history.

Next year, 2025, will mark 50 years since the formation of the group and a number of activities have been outlined to celebrate the milestone. 

There will be a series of concerts featuring local and international artistes, lectures, symposiums, dinner gala, among others.

Apart from these, there is also going to be an all-women festival which, according to Bessa Simons, will be the biggest part of the celebration.

"One big thing is going to happen, and that is we are going to have all-women festival," he said.

Bessa used the occasion to invite female musicians across the globe to take part in this festival.

"So we are inviting female musicians from all over the world, and it is self-sponsored if you are coming from outside. All the embassies will publish it, so we are expecting women to come to Ghana and then they will mount the stage.

“There will be outdoors, there will be in-doors, there will be church programmes, and we're thinking about bringing Cece Winans and co here, to collaborate with our artistes, so that at the end of next year, there will be harmony between us and artistes from all over the world," Bessa Simons added.

The Executive Director of the National Commission on Culture, Nana Otuo Owoahene Acheampong is the Chairman of the Golden Jubilee celebration.

He commended the Bessa Simons and the leadership of MUSIGA for manning well affairs of the union and also congratulated them on the Golden Jubilee milestone.

In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Andrew Egyapa Mercer, disclosed that in line with the first Creative Arts Hall of Fame opened in Sekondi in September, the government intends to reciprocate the initiative in other regions last year. 

There were solidarity messages from Ghana Culture Forum, Ghana Actors Guild and Copyright offices at the launch.

The official logo for MUSIGA@50 was unveiled as well.