Musicians In Peace Concert

As part of activities to promote peace during and after this year's elections, Ghanaian musicians have decided to stage series of musical concerts dubbed “United for Peace and Development” throughout the country to educate the people on the need to desist from acts that seek to undermine the elections. The concert was launched last Thursday by Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama in Accra. The launch brought together seasoned musicians including Amandzeba Nat Brew, Kwaw Kese, Chemphe, Five Five, as well as representatives from the Christian Council of Ghana, the Muslim Community and development partners. In a speech the Vice President said the peace concert would be an opportunity to test whether music could be used effectively as a unifying force as well as bridge ethnic and religious barriers. Alhaji Mahama, who called on Ghanaians to contribute to peaceful elections, said a series of 16 musical concerts would be held in every regional capital and six metropolitan centres with the climax in Accra. According to him, “Peace is an intangible asset that cannot be quantified in any units of measurements, yet its intrinsic value is unquantifiable and all pervasive”. The Vice President pointed out that it was an accepted fact that sustainable development required an environment of peace and to make progress as a country all well meaning Ghanaians must reject instability and opt for peaceful co-existence.The Minister of State at the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, Sampson Kwaku Boafo, appealed to Ghanaians to pray and guard against any form of ethno-political sentiments likely to threaten the peace and stability in the country. He said as preparation towards the December polls heat up, certain mischievous persons, in their quest and thirst for political power, may wish to see Ghana burst into flames should the power elude them. The Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Woode, on her part warned against inflammatory and foul language, insults, the spewing of venom, preaching of violence, disrespect for and disdain towards institutions of state and authorities, as well as blackmail and lies to the unsuspecting public. She said such vices should not have a place in the country's political life especially during the campaign season. Mrs Justice Woode urged those seeking elective leadership positions to understand that they could end up as losers if they preached violence and negativities that had the potential of undermining and destroying institutions of state and authorities. Mr Kofi Boateng Agyen, Acting Country Manager of World Bank, pledged the bank's commitment to peace and development in Ghana and announced that the bank had promised to sponsor award winners of the recently held Ghana Music Awards to produce a theme song for the “United for Peace and Development” campaign. President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Mrs Diana Hopeson, pointed out that music brought unity and pledged the musicians' readiness to use their talents to promote peace and development.