Insurance for entertainers ; The time is now
Recently, as I was listening to an entertainment programme on one of the leading radio stations in the national capital, I was shaken to the marrow, when I noticed the rather feeble voice I was listening to was that of Auntie Connie, an adored Gospel Artiste, who churned out a number of hit songs. Apparently, she had been allegedly diagnosed of severe kidney and liver problems.
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In a rather sad tone, the host requested to speak with Cee Connie through her daughter, as he could no longer bear the emotions from Auntie’s frail voice.
Meanwhile, this is not the first time we have heard about some of our celebrities battling such ailments and suffering in silence, without any hope of security of any kind, including insurance protection. Talk about Rev. Kusi Berko, Alfred Kotey, and several others, who died after alleged protracted ailments. Even the untimely deaths of celebs such as Terry Bonchaka, Suzzie Williams and Kwame Owusu Ansah, who all died in separate accidents, have given cause for concern, thus pushing to the fore the need for insurance.
I felt gratified, however, when in what appeared to be an advocacy for Group Insurance, a panelist on the said programme, after listening to the sad story of Auntie Connie, strongly advocated a compulsory insurance package for the entire membership of Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) and others emphasising that these associations had the capacity to provide personal accident and medical insurance cover for their entire memberships.
Some Ghanaian artistes don’t take insurance seriously
Unlike in the advanced world where artistes, especially musicians, could even insure their voices against an ailment such as common sore throat, most artistes in Ghana don’t. This is because most of our musicians and actors / actresses tend to overlook the need for an insurance cover against perils relating to their trade sometimes because they do not earn much from royalties. Besides, at the peak of their trade, some are often carried away by their wealth from ‘once-in-a-while shows’ hence, their lack of interest in taking out insurance cover.
These notwithstanding, Ghanaian artistes should be mindful of the fact that stardom is largely transient, and that the unfortunate circumstances of some celebs in the past, as enumerated earlier, could befall any of them. Thus, they may be strong, youthful and very active today, but the same cannot be guaranteed tomorrow.
A case for insurance protection
Anyway, back to the panelist who emphasised the insurance agenda, the gentleman hit the nail right on the head, and I doff my hat for him. In fact, medical expenses on kidney, liver, lungs and heart, for instance, can be quite expensive; hence the need for insurance cover to mitigate the costs arising from such unfortunate and unforeseen mishaps. Moreover, as death is inevitable, and often referred to as the mother of all human enemies, the need for an insurance package to compensate the nominated dependents (e.g. wife, children, siblings and parents) of artistes who meet their untimely deaths, has also become imperative.
In this regard, the leadership of the various associations in our entertainment industry should, as a matter of urgency, consider insurance for their members in relation to accidents, terminal illness, hospitalisation, and death. While advocating that artistes take a special interest in insurance, there is also the need for appropriate education to members in order that they may fully appreciate and support the need for such insurance protection.
Beyond the group insurance policy for the various associations, however, individual members may also consider personalised insurance such as a personal investments, education financing, and funeral cover for self and / or family, as well. From the experiences of some people, I have come to realise that mishaps occur when one is ‘broke’. You would probably understand this not when you have ever lost a parent-in-law, but the timing!
Way forward
In the course of my career in insurance, I have often sold the idea of insurance to my friends in the entertainment industry, especially, and some of the rather unfortunate responses I get from their ‘artistic tongues’ include: ‘how much aah is it’?, ‘Charley, I won’t die now’, ‘Bro, let’s talk later, ‘I take good care of my health, so I don’t need to waste more money on insurance.’ The reality, however, only dawns on all of us when we hear such shocking stories of our beloved artistes falling seriously ill or dying suddenly, either accidentally or through other natural causes.
The time has come for the leadership of our entertainment fraternity to seriously consider a group insurance for their members, in relation to personal accident, ailment, hospitalisation, and even death. They must talk to insurance practitioners, brokers and agents on which mix of covers would be relevant to their respective associations.
It is, therefore, my expectation that Mr Music Man, Obuor and Rev. Eddie Coffie, representing GHAMRO, MUSIGHA and GAG, respectively, would chart this new path of bringing hope to their members. It is also an opportunity to leave such a lifelong legacy in service to God and Country.
Until Next Week, “This is Insurance from the eyes of my mind” GB