The La Palm Royal Hotel, last night was set ablaze as the Industry and Highlife Night of the Ghana Music Awards Festival 2007 took off.

The event was a party for all nominees, invited stakeholders of the Music Industry and members of the public who buy tickets to be part of the historic music celebrations.

Some of the award winners were Record label of the Year – Big Ben Music Production, Producer of the Year – Ofori Amponsah and Reggae Song of the Year – Batman Samini, Obrafour – Video of the Year and Kwadee – Song Writer of the Year.

Kwesi Pee, a highlife musician who has been nominated for the BEST MALE VOCAL PERFORMANCE, HIGHLIFE ARTISTE OF THE YEAR and HIGHLIFE SONG OF THE YEAR [Monto] thrilled the august audience with soothing music that perfectly matched the occasion.

Gracing the occasion was the Vice president of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Alhaji Aliu Mahama.

This year’s Ghana Music Awards is sponsored by Areeba, Unique Trust, Western Union, Channel O and Coca Cola.

The following were also given special awards with citations.

	An award winner with her award

Reggie Rockstone
In recognition of his meritorious service to the music industry in Ghana, having promulgated a new genre of music – HIP LIFE – thus paving the way for a new generation, and a new musical movement in Ghana through the 1990’s and beyond, creating new hope and occupation for the youth.


Prof. Emeritus J. H. Nketia
In recognition of his meritorious service to the music industry in Ghana, having dedicated a lifetime to musicology and composing, chronicling Ghanaian cultural development, promoting folk music and working diligently to document Ghanaian music, creating an intellectual discourse in African Music and dance.


Prof. Kofi Abraham
In recognition of his meritorious service to the music industry in Ghana, having spent a life time propagating indigenous gospel music through your band SEKYERE DUMASI GOSPEL BAND since 1970, churning out over 2000 compositions, creating new avenues for a whole new generation of gospel performers.


Dr. K. Gyasi
In recognition of his meritorious service to the music industry in Ghana, having pioneered the SIKYI highlife sound with his NOBLE KINGS BAND, bringing a new lulling, reflective take on the classic dance high life music.


Dick Essilfie Bonzie
In recognition of his meritorious service to the music industry in Ghana, having spent decades through the 60’s, 70’s producing notable local musicians and through his record manufacturing company POLYGRAM – one of two such factories in Ghana – creating major ‘hit’ records and singles for the growing industry.


Ebo Taylor
In recognition of his meritorious service to the music industry in Ghana, having propagated Ghanaian music through his deft arranging and nimble guitar playing skills, earning the accolade ‘Guitarist of Africa’ – and going to share his knowledge with a new generation as a lecturer at the University of Ghana


Nana Kwame Ampadu
In recognition of his meritorious service to the music industry in Ghana, having dedicated a lifetime to the development of indigenous Ghanaian music through the work of his ‘AFRICAN BROTHERS BAND’ among others, causing great sway among his peers and generations afterwards.


OSIBISA
In recognition of their meritorious service to the music industry in Ghana, having used their energy and contagion of music to infect the world with Ghanaian rhythms, creating a new genre of world music called CRIS CROSS, and becoming the greatest musical export from Ghana ever..


FRANCIS KWAKYE
In recognition of his meritorious service to the music industry in Ghana, having dedicated a lifetime working with generations of Ghanaian musicians, and celluloid and video film production in Sounding Engineering, sharing his knowledge and training a new generation


Alhaji Sidiku Buari
In recognition of his meritorious service to the music industry in Ghana, having served as president of the musicians union of Ghana from 1999, during which time the union was re-organized in all the regional branches, thereby improving the image of musicians nationwide, and working tirelessly to address the rights of musicians


Ewura Badu
In recognition of her meritorious service to the music industry in Ghana, having spent a lifetime performing, first with the Police Service Band from 1973 to 1978, and going on to form her own band “Nana Anum Band” thereby becoming the vanguard for the movement for female musicians in Ghana to achieve independence.


Jerry Hanson
In recognition of his meritorious service to the music industry in Ghana, having worked tirelessly to help popularize Ghanaian high-life Big Band music across the globe through his Ramblers International Band and greatly influencing a generation.