Ghana Music Week goes international with a launch in U.S this October
In just three years, the Ghana Music Week (GMW) Festival, has caught the attention of the international community with the City of Mount Vernon in New York, USA, being the first to host the international launch of the 2016 edition.
Dubbed the World Launch, it would be held at the Mount Vernon City Hall in New York on Saturday, October 17, 2015.
This was revealed by Bice Osei-Kuffour, President of Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), to Myjoyonline.com last Thursday on his return from a working visit to the USA, where he met with the Mayor of the host city, Mayor Ernest D. Davis.
Obour intimated: “It feels great to learn that so soon, the international community is appreciating the essence of engaging this great platform. I am particularly elated because one of the cardinal principles institutionalizing GMW Festival was to serve as a booster for tourism whilst creating the industry’s biggest platform to bring together and encourage participation of artistes, stakeholders, the media, decision/policy makers and music users.”
The MUSIGA President said, although it had been a very difficult road, his firm conviction of what the GMW Festival stood for served as the driving force to keep the project going year after year.
Prior to the main launch at the Forecourt of the Mount Vernon City Hall on Saturday, October 17 there will be an International Media Launch at the Ghana Embassy in Washington DC on Friday, October 16, 2015.
As part of the programme, the partnership will award individuals for their contribution to the promotion of Arts and Culture in Ghana and the U.S.
This includes Rabbi Kohain Halevi, a native of the City of Mount Vernon, who has been living in Ghana for the past 25 years and currently heads PANAFEST.
He brought Mayor Davis to Ghana some years ago, which resulted in the establishment of a Sister City relationship between Elmina and Mount Vernon.
The primary objective of the international launch, according to GMW Executive Director, Verus Nartey, is to roll out activities to attract about 5,000 visitors from the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa, to Ghana for the 2016 Ghana Music Week in March, and to promote Ghanaian tourism through music.
Expected to grace the launch, are the First Lady of the Republic, Mrs. Lordina Mahama and the Minister for Tourism, Culture & Creative Arts, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, as special guests of honor.
GMW Festival is organized by the Musicians Union of Ghana in collaboration with Ministry of Tourism and Culture & Creative Arts, Showbiz Africa and Fantasy Entertainment.
Source: Joy News
