The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) is working on introducing a minimum wage for its members.

This decision was taken at the MUSIGA National Capacity Building Workshop for the Union’s National Executive Council members, which took place at Erata Hotel, Accra from September 5 to 8.

Participants at the workshop were taken through various topics including Collective Bargaining Agreements, MUSIGA Gender Policy, Improving Financial Management in MUSIGA and Contractual Agreements.

The deputy general secretary of FIM, Thomas Dayan who led discussions on the Collective Bargaining Agreement (C.B.A), said it is the tool used by Musicians Unions’ to guarantee a minimum wage for their members. He noted that in West Africa, Senegal has set the pace with a minimum wage in place for members of the Senegal Association des Métiers de la Musique (AMS).

Mr Dayan noted that as a member of the Union of Informal Workers Associations (UNIWA) of T.U.C, MUSIGA can undertake such a move. To this end, MUSIGA will engage with employers of musicians, event organizers and venue owners to discuss the modalities for such an arrangement.

The head of International Relations of the Swedish Musicians Federation (SMF), Jonas Franzen on his part addressed issues of communication and financial management and shared the experience of the SMF.

The President of MUSIGA, Bessa Simons noted, “The workshop is a welcome activity which has provided our members with the necessary knowledge and skills to provide leadership for the Union in their regions and I believe MUSIGA will be better off for this.”

In his closing remarks, Alhaji Sidiku Buari, former MUSIGA President and a former Vice President of FIM who chaired the workshop tasked the participants to return to their regions and impart the knowledge they had acquired to their members in the region. He also thanked FIM for their support for MUSIGA since the year 2000.

Former MUSIGA President, Bice Osei Kuffour aka Obour called on the participants to ensure that they use the knowledge they acquire at the workshop in developing the Union in the regions.

The new Chief Director of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Robert Patrick Ankobiah assured the Union of the Ministry’s support in all its endeavours.

The workshop is part of a Union-t-Union project organized by FIM under the theme, “Developing Musicians Unions in Africa.”

Other countries involved in the project are Kenya and Senegal.