Ahuma Bosco Ocansey, Director of Communications and Special Projects for the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), has spoken about the union’s open membership policy, emphasising its inclusive approach to everyone in the music production industry.
During an interview on The Chat with Ekow Koomson on Channel One TV on November 9, Ahuma Bosco explained that MUSIGA seeks to serve as a collaborative platform, welcoming not only musicians but also managers, songwriters, sound engineers, publicists, and other key contributors to the music value chain.
As MUSIGA prepares for its 50th anniversary, he encouraged music lovers to join as patrons or associates, further broadening the support base for Ghana’s music scene.
“MUSIGA is for everybody in the music value chain because you see, musicians alone cannot do it. They need their managers, they need the songwriters, they need even their publicists. So once you are doing something that is related to music in terms of the production aspect, not the consumption because if you are a listener or you are a lover of music, maybe you can join as a patron or something like that, or an associate.”
Reflecting on the union’s history, Ahuma Bosco noted that MUSIGA was formally registered in 1975 as a Private Company Limited by Guarantee. This formal establishment followed efforts by Ghanaian musicians to unify and advocate for their rights, eventually leading to MUSIGA’s first office near the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra.
The organisation gained momentum in the 1980s with support from the PNDC government under Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, who recognized music’s cultural significance and helped provide resources to strengthen the union’s structure and outreach.
Today, MUSIGA continues its commitment to fostering young talent, as highlighted by second vice president Abena Ruthy. She praised the success of MUSIGA’s Music Integration Project, which has helped launch the careers of popular artists like highlife star Kuami Eugene and Afrobeats singer Adina.
This project, among other initiatives, exemplifies the union’s dedication to bridging the gap between emerging and established artists.
As MUSIGA nears its golden anniversary, it aims to further expand its influence across Ghana’s music industry, remaining a central organization for those involved in the creation and promotion of Ghanaian music.
