Public Agenda (Accra)
13 October 2008
Accra — A group of musicians and other performing artistes has arrived in Bolgatanga and Bawku in the Upper East Region to perform peace concerts together with another batch of local artistes, traditional rulers, religious bodies and the youth.
The departure of the group followed 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.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 Public Agenda. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
