The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) has responded to accusations of neglecting rap icon Okomfo Kwaadee, born Jerry Anaabaa, while he experiences dire times.

According to Ms Abena Ruthy, the 2nd Vice President of MUSIGA, the Hiplife star is not a member of MUSIGA, intimating he was not entitled to member benefits.

She noted, however, Kwaadee had previously received support from the union, adding MUSIGA had plans to express more support, especially since President Bessa Simons had instructed so. She underlined this would be done solely on humanitarian grounds.

"There was news about Kwaadee recently. He is not even a member now. But our President was on us to link him up to Kwadee. So that is the kind of thing we are doing. We are a family," she said, speaking to Kwame Dadzie on Joy FM's Showbiz A-Z.

| Abena Ruthy, MUSIGA 2nd Vice President 

She disabused the public and entertainment stakeholders that once an individual was a musician, they were automatically MUSIGA members entitled to benefits, not needing formal registration and acknowledgement of same.

"There is a narrative out there that so far as someone sings, everybody thinks that you are part of us. So we have members in good standing. So as it stands he is not a member in good standing,” Ms Ruthy noted, urging MUSIGA members to make their welfare and insurance contributions.

Under the leadership of Ras Caleb Appirah, MUSIGA went to see Kwaadee in 2018 while he was at the Willing Ways Foundation rehabilitation centre, Kumasi, Ashanti Region, making donations to him, also.

MUSIGA has recently come under criticism for neglecting Kwaadee after a video went viral showing him lean and unwell while he performed a song of his in what appeared to be a slum.

It is public knowledge Kwaadee struggles with drug addiction.