Ambassador Gladys Binney, founder and CEO of the Ghana Legends Awards, has called for the establishment of a dedicated fund to provide financial, medical and other forms of support to Ghanaian legends who have contributed significantly to the country’s music, entertainment, arts and culture.
She said many celebrated personalities who dedicated their productive years to entertaining and serving society now face financial and health challenges, but are often reluctant to seek assistance because of the perception that successful legends should have enough resources to cater for themselves.
Ambassador Binney made the call on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at the launch of the Ghana Legends Awards 2026.
She said the proposed fund could support legends with access to free medical care, insurance coverage, financial assistance and endorsement opportunities.
“I am appealing that we have a fund to support the legends because they need to receive medical care, free medical care. They need to get insurance and endorsements,” she said.
According to her, the general public continue to benefit from the work and creativity of these personalities but often fail to provide adequate support when they need it most.
“We still use their products and benefit from what they gave us, but are we doing the same thing for them?” she asked.
Ambassador Binney said society must move away from the notion that legends do not need assistance simply because of their past achievements and public recognition.
She noted that many of them made significant sacrifices to support their families, communities and other people, sometimes at the expense of their own financial security.
“People feel legends do not need help. So, in a case where a legend even needs help and comes out publicly, it becomes a problem,” she said.
She stressed that legends remain human beings with financial, medical and other needs, and should therefore be supported while they are still alive.
“They are human beings. They need support. Some of them are sick. They need financial support, medical support and everything,” she said.
Ambassador Binney explained that the Ghana Legends Awards is established not only to honour distinguished personalities but also to create a platform through which the public can contribute to their wellbeing.
She said the initiative would provide opportunities for individuals and organisations to support legends through donations and other interventions.
“This programme is here to restore our legends back to the system. They are still alive, they still need support, and we need to do that for them,” she said.
She urged government, corporate organisations and the public to complement recognition with practical support for personalities whose contributions have helped shape Ghana’s creative and cultural heritage.
The Ghana Legends Awards 2026 seeks to celebrate and preserve the legacies of iconic Ghanaian personalities while promoting greater appreciation and support for them during their lifetime.
The Ghana Legends Awards Night is scheduled for October 2026, where distinguished figures in Ghana’s creative and cultural industries are expected to be honoured.
By 1960news.com
