musiga should organize ghana music awards not charter house

Elizabeth Tagoe, Greater Accra regional Vice Chairperson of MUSIGA

The Vice Chairperson of the Greater Accra regional branch of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Elizabeth Tagoe is advocating for the musicians union to take charge of the organization of the annual Ghana Music Awards.

According to Elizabeth Tagoe, who is a member of legendary gospel music duo Tagoe Sisters, MUSIGA is better placed to organize the awards ceremony which seeks to honour the talent and works of Ghanaian musicians.

Speaking in an interview with Myjoyonline.com, the Greater Accra Vice Chair noted that while she has no problem with Charter House, organizers of the awards for the past 13 years, the current dispensation does not benefit the musicians’ union.

“MUSIGA has to take over and organize it because [in] 1987/1988 we used to hold it ourselves. We have to do it ourselves. All we need is sponsors,” she stressed.

Asked whether MUSIGA had the ability to organize the awards, Elizabeth Tagoe urged that, “We have to change the perception that we cannot do it. We have to organize ourselves well and try and do it ourselves. Some people are supporting them to do it why can’t [MUSIGA] do it? All we need is sponsors.”

The MUSIGA Vice Chair recalled that MUSIGA has, in the past, successfully partnered the organization of the Entertainment Critics and Reviewers Association of Ghana (ECRAG) awards and the Arts Critics and Reviewers Association of Ghana (AGRAG) awards which acknowledged and rewarded the toils of Ghanaian musicians.

She was, however, quick to acknowledge Charter House for organizing the awards for more than a decade now.

“They have done well, for that one I won’t take it from them but at the end of the day…we have to try and do something for musicians to believe in the [musicians] association,” she underscored.

Elizabeth Tagoe, who says she has been a member of MUSIGA since 1987, revealed that there are talks for the musicians union to solicit sponsors and also meet Charter House to see how best MUSIGA can fully own and organize the awards.