GMA UK Committee invites MUSIGA

PRESS RELEASE

15th August, 2005

On behalf of the Committee of the Ghana Music Awards UK, I write to invite back MUSIGA to this year?s awards ceremony, to be held on Saturday 24th September 2005 at the Stratford Rex in London. Come September this year, the awards ceremony will be running successfully as an organisation for three years. We believe in unity lies strength and that ?the two headed but one stomach man does not fight over food?. The GMA UK?s main aim is to ?establish international recognition for our musicians? to which we believe MUSIGA shares our objective.

For that reason and the betterment of our musicians, we at the Ghana Music Awards UK are willing to work with MUSIGA and vice versa.

The niche awards aims to promote, encourage growth, excellence and innovation in its musicians and to act as a platform for recognising positive role models and achievers for young people. The GMA UK awards offer unique opportunity to recommend a Ghanaian achiever in music who deserves mainstream recognition and is making an impact in the United Kingdom. It also recognises raw talents in the community who would not normally receive recognition for their achievements, or who have not received the due recognition in the mainstream awards.

Voting for the 3rd Annual Ghana Music Awards are opened. The committee is inviting voting from the general public to be recognised at its annual awards event.

Criteria

Any musician who has contributed significantly to the music industry in any shape or form between the period of January 2004 and July 2005. Nominations were welcomed from the general public as well as media houses. The organisers are also encouraging more participation from raw talents this year who have a special award designated to them.

2005 Awards Categories

There are three main Categories (Musicians, Music Makers, and Special) with 23 individual awards for grabs this year. The Musician Awards include: Song of the year, Album of the year, Musician of the year, gospel Artist of the year Music Makers Awards include. Best Sound Engineer, Music Video of the year, Best Record Label, Best Music Promoter, Best Radio DJ, The Special Awards for grabs this year are Life Time Achievement which goes to the top award winner, The Proud Star Award for Ghanaians who do not make or sing Ghanaian music. For more categories visit: www.ghanamusicaward.co.uk.

WHY GHANA MUSIC AWARDS AND IN THE UK?

During the last few months, many friends and well-wishers have been constantly questioning me as to how-when-and why did I develop the concept of organizing the GHANA MUSIC AWARDS and in the UK. For all of them, I did not have an immediate answer or at least the correct vocal one. But deep down inside me, I knew that Ghanaian music is the eternal bond between thousands of others like me and our roots, which have their foundations in the memories of motherland Ghana.

Over the many years I have spent in the United Kingdom, I observed that it was the magnificent medium of Ghanaian music which was an enduring and lovable link between Ghanaians abroad and their countrymen back home. Be it following the latest stars and songs, or cherishing old classics, the music lovers in UK are in close touch with the song happenings in Ghana.

Our fellow Ghanaian entertainers too would get an opportunity to acquire global exposure on the greater level as well as increase CD sales through the prestigious platform of the GHANA MUSIC AWARDS UK. Right from the conception, planning and execution of this mega event, my colleagues and I have been leaving no stone unturned to make the Ghana Music Awards UK a glamorous and historic event.

SUPPORTERS

The GMA UK is supported by a diverse range of high profile individuals, companies, celebrities and community groups including His Excellency Isaac Osei, The Ghana High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland, Charles Thompson founder Black Oscars, Rt. Hon Paul Boateng, Secretary of State to the Treasury, Lee Jasper, Adviser to the Mayor of London, Henry Bonsu, writer and Broadcaster, Bishop Frimpong Manso Chairman Broadwater Farms Community.

?The GMA UK awards since its inception three years ago have offered a platform not only for rewarding and promoting the cream of the music industry but also has been significant in promoting international sales for our musicians through networking between Radio Stations in the UK, Record Label and High Profile decision makers both in the UK and in Ghana? As rightly said by Mr. Kwabena Baah Duodu (Deputy Ghana High Commission):

Notes to Editors:

Founded by Eric McKaiser of Easy Media Empire, the GMA UK Awards were first held in September 2003 as a niche awards to establish international recognition for our musicians. Over the years, it has become the premier awards in recognising the unsung heroes and heroines in the Ghanaian music industry hitherto not given mainstream recognition.

Please Visit: www.ghanamusicaward.co.uk for photos of last year's Ghana Music Awards UK.

Long live Ghana long live our musicians.

Eric McKaiser

Founder GMA UK