Five Music Heroes, A.B Crentsil, Nana Kwame Ampadu, Obuoba J.A Adofo, C.K. Mann and Jewel Ackah received GH?10,000.00 each at the MUSIGA Presidential Grand Ball held on Friday, December 29 at the State House Banquet Hall.
To cap it off, the MP for Assin North Kennedy Agyepong promised them a monthly support of GHC 5,000.00 each.
Souvenir items from music icons Koo Nimo, the late Paapa Yankson and Ewurama Badu and collections of the greatest hits by Kojo Antwi, Daddy Lumba, Amakye Dede and other Ghanaian greats were auctioned also to raise funds for the Ageing Musicians Welfare Fund (AMWeF).
The event was attended by President Akufo-Addo who paid glowing tribute to the music heroes and music industry pillars who were honoured. He reiterated his government’s commitment to supporting the development of the creative arts through the establishment of the Creative Arts Council.
The Presidential Grand Ball is organized by MUSIGA to raise funds for projects such as AMWeF and the MUSIGA Academy undertaken by the Union.
The President presented awards to four Music Industry pillars; Mrs. Theresa Ani-Adjei Ayoade, C.E.O of Charter House Productions; HRH Oscar Yao Doe, Founder, President and Executive Chairman of Doscar Group Holdings which includes Eurostar Global Limousine Group and Doscar Travel and Tours; Ebo Hawkson former Chairman of the Oversight Committee of the Copyright Society of Ghana (COSGA) and telecommunications giant MTN, the outgoing chairman of the MUSIGA Presidential Grand Ball Board, Samuel Afari-Dartey, while the former C.E.O of the Forestry Commission also received a special award for his work with the Grand Ball Board.
Performances on the night were by Wutah who paid tribute to Paapa Yankson, Becca who paid tribute to Ewurama Badu, Daddy Lumba, Joe Mettle and Ivorian superstar, Freddie Meiway. Comedian DKB had the President and entire audience up in stitches with his rib cracking jokes.
Also present at the Presidential Grand Ball were the Chief of Staff, Madam Frema Opare, Minister of Information Dr. Mustapha Hamid and former first lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings. The new chairman of the Board, Hassan Tampoli of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) affirmed his commitment to ensuring the continued success of the MUSIGA Presidential Grand Ball.
The night also witnessed the launch of the Play More Gh project which is an advocacy campaign for more Ghanaian content on local airwaves and the Future Project, a talent incubation programme organized by the Union.