MUSIGA now vehicle where old, retired musicians dump their issues – Ben Brako

The purpose of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) has been “misunderstood”, highlife legend Ben Brako has observed, explaining that the union has now become a place where old and retired musicians run to with their “issues”.

“The thing is, a lot of people even misunderstand what MUSIGA is about”, Ben Brako told Natalia Andoh on Class91.3FM’s mid-morning show Touch of Class on Tuesday, 14 January 2020.

“MUSIGA is a union; it’s like a workers’ union and their basic remit is to ensure that musicians get their due or their rights are not disrespected; to make sure that they are paid reasonably for their craft and then also, hopefully, to help them in their retirement.

“But it’s become a vehicle where retired and old musicians bring all their issues to MUSIGA because music had, hitherto, like I said before, been a social thing more than a commercial thing, so, it needs a transformation in that sense and also it needs more grassroots organisation. So, there’s a lot of work to be done”, he noted.

In his view, even though he is “the best person” to be the President of the union, there are a lot of issues with the group that renders its drivers ineffective.

“I think I’ll be the best person to be the leader of MUSIGA but there are serious issues that will prevent one from being able to be effective”, the ‘Mawie’ hitmaker told Natalia.

As far as he is concerned, the immediate past president of MUSIGA, Mr Bice Kuffour (Obour) has been the best lately.

“Let me say that I think that it’s been in reasonably good hands of late. I didn’t know about the others but I know that Obour tried to do his best”.

“I was actually even a part of his initial management but I got a bit tired and withdrew my services."