A few days ago, a video of Ghanaian musician Okomfour Kwadee, looking frail and shirtless while performing for a small group of friends, reignited public concern over his well-being.

The once-celebrated artist, whose struggles with mental health and addiction have been widely reported over the years, appears to be caught in a cycle of brief recoveries and relapses. Fans and industry stakeholders have since called for urgent intervention to support him.

Amid these concerns, the Second Vice President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Abena Ruthy, has clarified why the union’s ability to assist him is limited. Speaking on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z, she explained:

“There was a conversation about Kwadee recently, and he is not even a member now, but our president urged us to help him. So, that is what we are doing. We are a family. We are not obliged to help, but we are trying to look out for him as much as we can.”

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Her statement sheds light on a long-standing misconception that every musician in Ghana is automatically part of MUSIGA.

She emphasized that the union has criteria for membership and that artists must remain in “good standing” to receive full benefits.

“There is a narrative out there that as long as you sing, everyone thinks you are part of us. But we have members in good standing. As it stands now, he is not a member in good standing,” she said.

While acknowledging that MUSIGA is not legally bound to assist Kwadee, she highlighted the importance of joining such organizations for structured support.

“If something good is happening, you should sign on because it is important. We hope that more people will contribute, and we hope the education will help people understand the need to join,” she added.

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