Kwesi Ernest is an entertainment executive and artiste manager
Entertainment executive and artiste manager Kwesi Ernest has defended the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) following criticisms over the organisation’s GH¢500 donation to the family of the late gospel music icon Yaw Sarpong, during his one-week funeral observance.
Speaking on Peace FM on February 21, 2026, Ernest said the contribution was not intended to diminish Sarpong’s four-decade impact on the Ghanaian music industry or to ridicule his legacy.
He emphasised that the one-week celebration is not an event for public displays of wealth but rather a time for family, friends, and industry members to come together and support funeral planning.
“MUSIGA itself has a special role and mandate it plays towards the funeral that is even bigger than donating money. So, those criticising should relax; the one-week celebration is not an event to show off,” he said.
He stressed that donations at one-week rites are voluntary and come from the heart and that no one should be policing how much individuals or organisations give.
MUSIGA addresses GH¢500 funeral contribution to Yaw Sarpong’s family
Ernest also noted that MUSIGA members may have contributed from their own pockets and not as an official donation, adding that the union’s support for the family extends beyond the publicised amount.
“We should understand how these things work. The one-week celebration is not meant for showing off money. It is for family and friends to come together and plan how the funeral would take place,” he said.
He reiterated that the one-week observance should focus on unity and planning for the grand funeral, rather than judgment over donations.
MUSIGA had attracted backlash on social media after news reports stated that the body had donated GH¢500 during Yaw Sarpong’s One Week observance on February 19, 2026, with many calling for a larger donation from such an institution.
MUSIGA President Bessa Simons, during an interview with TV3, had said the donation was a minor contribution and that the official donation would be at the funeral.
He added that the body had also been involved in other activities on behalf of the family of Yaw Sarpong.
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