Arts, Music and Achievers Awards launched

Accra, Jan 11, GNA -A new awards programme for musicians and artists known as Sunshine Arts, Music and Achievers Awards (SAMA) to help to promote the music industry was on Tuesday launched in Accra. Launching the programme, Okyeame Kwame Bediako, President of SAMA, said the awards ceremony was scheduled to take place in April 2005 and that the awards had been divided into 22 categories.

He said SAMA would also confer posthumous awards on three Ghanaian superstars - John Evans Kwadwo Bosompem, alias Santo, for acting; Terry Boncha for Hip-Life and Mr Akwasi Ampofo Agyei for Highlife music. Award winners would receive cash and materials details of which would be announced later.

He advised the National Commission on Culture, Musicians Union of Ghana and the Government to set up a music censorship board to censor Ghanaian music and lyrics before they were recorded or produced for the market.

"Our youth should be given what they need but not what they want. Ghana and a few other African countries were regarded as having the best music potentials, especially when we have a distinctive music genre, the highlife and the over 150 years old musical tradition."

Okyeame Bediako said the music industry was capable of promoting tourism and generating income and, therefore, advised that Ghanaians should embrace music as essential element to develop and promote to boost Ghanaian culture and the tourism sector.

He said SAMA would liase with MUSIGA and other holders in music industry to collate and collect data, organise media programmes in association with the listening public to select the award winners. He called for support from institutions, organisations and individuals to help SAMA to give befitting awards to musicians and artiste who helped to promote good music.

Mr Prince Afotey Laryea, alias Humble Lion, said the influx of foreign music was influencing the lives of the people and called on musicians to promote the Ghanaian culture through their music. The awards are: The Kente Award for best highlife music, which is the highest award; Seprewa Award; Kpanlogo Award; Osibi Agoro; Ahomansiahene; Nwomtofohenemaa; David Sanku; Nwomkoro Agoro; Music Talent; Lifetime Achievement; Best Sound Engineer; Best Instrumentalist and Best Gospel Song.

Others are Consistent Gospel Artiste; Promising Gospel Artiste; Hip-Life Artiste; Evergreen Highlife Tune; Top Music Producer; Best Music Distributor; Best Cassette Duplicator; Utility Reporter and Music Personality Award.