Highlife musician Kaakyire Kwame Appiah has remained the failure on the part of some musicians to regularly go on a medical checkup.
The musician, who is now the Benkumhene of Bosomtwe Asaman in the Ashanti region (Nana Adieaemuyeduru Trimude Kaakyire Kwame Appiah I), said some wait until their conditions are in the chronic stages before they seek medical attention.
Appearing on the weekend morning show on Rainbow Radio 97.5FM, he underscored the need for musicians and other creatives to seek medical care on a regular basis in order to prevent any chronic situation that will affect their wellbeing, finances, and other aspects of their lives.
He stated that with regular medical checkups, any condition one is suffering will be detected on time, managed, and medications prescribed, which would help prolong the life of the person involved.
He told host Nhyiraba Kwabena Asirifi that “some of the musicians or human beings in general do not appreciate how important checkups are. By the time you realise it, something might take you, like the rapture. If you go for a regular checkup and there is a problem, it will be detected on time and managed. It is through a check that it can be detected that you either have HIV, hepatitis, or hypertension and treated.
But if you refuse to go for a regular checkup, your situation could become chronic and affect your total well-being. I appreciate check-up a lot. I don’t know if it is because of my long stay abroad. Musicians usually have a prolonged life, but if you do not go for regular checkups, you may die early. Every human being on earth needs a checkup. That’s the little I can say based on the question you asked me.”
When asked why some musicians struggle to survive or pay for their medical bills despite being part of music unions and whether it is because they don’t pay their dues, he explained that these bodies and their core mandates do not necessarily based on the welfare of musicians.
According to him, the Musicians Union of Ghana exists to provide a platform for you to be exposed as a musician, and it also provides support for you when you need any form of letter or verbal proof to travel abroad.
The Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) is also there to protect the rights of musicians and collect royalties from radio and television stations and any other facilities to use the songs of members for their activities.
Rex Omar was doing this job until the court issues came in, and when these things do occur, it affects the stability and how effectively the organisation is run.
There is also the issue of some of our veteran musicians who could not make money from their work due to the systems we had at the time,” he added.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
