They make their living creating music to make the masses happy and there cannot be work and income for them in times of chaos and violence. That’s one of the key reasons why musicians in Ghana, under the wings of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), have often preached peace during general elections.

To give the campaign some celebrity status, the union is at the last stages of producing an all-star song which it believes would help the general populace further appreciate the need for peace before, during and after the November 7 elections.

It is a four and a half minutes track produced by well-known songwriter, singer and producer, Rev. Dr Thomas Yawson in collaboration with multiple award-winning producer-engineer, Appiah ‘Appietus’ Dankwa.

Artistes that have already finished their bits for the song include Knii Lante, Samini, Tagoe Sisters, Diana Hopeson, Adane Best and Kojo Antwi. Also expected to contribute to the piece in the coming week are Sarkodie, Sherifa, Blakk Rasta, Chizzy Wailer, Rev Yawson, Sup. Kofi Sarpong, Nana Ampadu and Pat Thomas.

“Some of the artistes are out of the country at the moment but we have sent them guide tracks and we expect them to contribute from wherever they are. Modern technology makes that fairly easy. We are pushing hard to finish completely with the track before the end of June,” Rev Yawson said.

He was happy about the level of enthusiasm with which the musicians have approached the peace song so far and said it was an indication of their genuine concern for peace in the motherland.

He stated that MUSIGA hoped to get the various presidential candidates to pledge their commitment to peace in the video of the song,

Meanwhile, singer Joe Mettle and his New Generation Ministers came up tops in the peace song category organised by MUSIGA at the last Vodafone Ghana Music Awards ceremony in Accra. Their song was called ‘Peace and Harmony.’

There were over 200 entries but a committee headed by Bessa Simons gave the thumbs up to Joe Mettle and his group to walk away with the GH¢10,000 prize.

Some other songs from the entries have been compiled, alongside the winning one, to be released as an album in June.

“The songs came from all over the country because musicians realise they have a lot of influence on the public when it comes to advocacy for peace. They see music as a useful tool for national cohesion and that is really dear to their hearts,” said MUSIGA’s Head of Communications and Special Projects, Ahuma Bosco Ocansey.