99% OF MUSIGA MEMBERS DON’T PAY DUES

Reliable information available to Flex newspaper has it that 99% of members of the musicians union of Ghana MUSIGA do not pay dues.

In Flex newspaper’s quest to find out whether members of MUSIGA pay dues as expected of them, the revelation we had was a rather disappointing one. Read a notice to all registered MUSIGA members from the Welfare Department of MUSIGA with the subject; Payment of welfare dues, (unedited):

I wish to draw the attention of all registered MUSIGA members to the fact that, payment of welfare dues by members has not been very regular; therefore irregular payment of welfare dues has affected the effective running of the welfare administration, especially in terms of giving member’s benefits.  The welfare department of MUSIGA has long been depending on the coffers of the mother Union to foot welfare activities which must not be under normal circumstance. Brothers and Sisters, now is the time for the welfare department to stand on its own not depending on the mother Union for financial assistance on welfare issues.

In view of the above, I wish to appeal to all members of MUSIGA to pay their welfare dues regularly. PLEASE NOTE: with effect from 15th July, 2013, the Union/Welfare will not pay any benefit to a member who has not fulfilled his or her obligations as a member of the Union/Welfare. Thanks for your co-operation. NO CONTRIBUTION, NO CHOP. KEEP IN MIND.

In a chat with Mr. John Victor Owusu, the National Welfare Officer of MUSIGA, he said “the very musicians who criticize MUSIGA for not assisting them are the very ones who don’t pay dues. As I speak with you, MUSIGA members who have paid their full annual dues since this new administration took office will not be more than 5 people. The worst culprits are the regions. They don’t pay dues!

Flex newspaper had the privilege of going through the list of defaulters and to our utter dismay; we saw names of current respected young musicians who fly all the way to Dubai, South Africa, Nigeria, etc. just to shoot one music video. Some even resort to the media to criticize MUSIGA for not doing much for musicians but default in paying GHC 5 per month or GHC 60 per annum as union dues.
As the old axiom says “little drops of water makes a mighty ocean.” Flex newspaper is by this publication calling on MUSIGA members who owe union dues to honour their indebtedness because it is those monies the union can mobilize for members’ welfare. Until then…..MOTWUM!!