2017 Ghana Music Week Festival ends impressively after poor start

After a poor attendance on the first day of GMW Festival’s 2-day musical concert to celebrate #Ghana60YearsOn, the Black Star Square came alive on the final day, Saturday March 11, 2017.

“For a festival that once attracted paying-crowds in excess of 25,000 in previous editions at the Accra Sports Stadium, we had no excuse for not making the numbers with a free-show last Friday”, admits Verus Nartey, GMW Festival Director.

The organisers blame the poor start on poor communication largely due to budgetary constraints. The Festival was promoted exclusively on EIB Networks- Live FM, Starr FM, Kasapa FM and GH-One TV, due to exclusivity deal with them. Also, the Sales & Exhibitions which was going on all day as part of the activities, saw people came and went during the day making it difficult to track huge numbers at any particular time of the show.

However, on the final day- Saturday, March 11, the Festival which is in its 5th year, registered very good crowds plus extra-ordinary performances. Starting as early as 6pm, traditional dance groups from each of the 10 regions of Ghana performed dances from the regions. Then the main band, Shabbo, hit the stage around 7:30pm backing such legendary performers as Nana Ampadu, Pat Thomas, Pozo Hayes, Diana Hopeson, Mary Ghansah and more.

Before the hiplifers took over, Celestine Donkor, Kofi Nti, Nicholas Omane Acheampong had thrilled the crowd. Okyeame Kwame pulled on stage MUSIGA President, Obour to perform their duet, ‘Killing the Game’. Reggie Rockstone-led VVIP, Tinny and Tic Tac proved experience matters when it comes to the stage delivery. Akatakyei, Ex-Doe and so many artistes performed to support the Festival, which was closed by traditional-afro act Fatau Keita and promising spoken-word act, Nenebi. Earlier on Friday, 15 reggae/dancehall artistes opened the 2-day concerts.

“We will do all we can to super-impress Ghanaians when the Planning Committee resumes work in May this year for the planning of GMW 2018 which would be held from March 3-10, 2018”, says Rev. Yawson, co-Chairman of the Planning Committee.

We thank the #Ghana60YearsOn Planning Committee for its support and EIB Network, the official broadcast partner for promoting the Festival.

GMW Festival was brought to you by the Musicians Union of Ghana, Showbiz Africa, Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Starr FM, Live FM, GH-One TV and Kasapa Radio, 2017 GMW Festival is powered by #Ghana60YearsOn.