Accra, Oct. 9, GNA - A group of musicians and other performing artistes left Accra on Thursday for Bolgatanga and Bawku in the Upper East Region where they will be met by another batch of local artistes, traditional rulers, religious bodies and the youth in a campaign for peace. The departure of the group followe several weeks of preparation, following the launch of the Ghana First Peace Train, a statement from the organisers said.

It identified some of the popular names on the Peace Train as Diana Hopeson, Amandzeba, Shasha Marley, Kwaw Kesse (Abodam), Adane Best, Ohemaa Mercy, Chemphe, 5 Five, Spirit, Wutah, Kitchen, Blaq Swede, Sherifatu Gunu, Rev Lenny Akpade, Grace Ashey and Ceasar. Others are Slow Gem, Philipa Berfi, Jane and Irene, Reggy Zippy, Isaac, Cee, Ampong, A.B. Crentsil, Patty, Okuraseni Samuel, Jerry Borketey and King Ayisoba. It said with just about two months left for presidential and parliamentary elections, many Ghanaians and friends of Ghana have had cause to worry about the country's ability to remain the oasis and beacon of peace in a hitherto stormy neighbourhood. It noted that over the past few months, the electioneering process had been beset with many reports of violence, fighting and profound bickering.

"Even during intra-party primaries, some people have been reported to have lost lives. The good thing is that Ghanaians by their nature are very peaceful and peace loving, so it is not a surprise that many initiatives have already sprung up with the aim of promoting peace." The statement said with the slogan "Ghana First; We Love Peace," the United Ghanaian Artistes for Peace (UGAP), featuring all the winners of the MUSIGA 2007 Awards and other leading Ghanaian artistes first worked very hard to produce a Peace Song entitled "We Love Peace" and a video to match, which will make its debut this week. Mr S.K. Boafo, Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, said Ghana was all we have, and we should stop at nothing to ensure that peace prevailed during the election.

Mr Ishac Diwan, World Bank Country Director for Ghana, in whose house the idea was conceived during a reception in honour of the Awardees, commended the voluntary spirit with which the artistes were pursuing this peace agenda. "It is a good feeling to see these young musicians take up what was just a little discussion from its beginning to such a level that we now have, not just a nice song and a beautiful video, but a whole platform which is bringing many peace loving people together for a noble cause," he said.