Accra, Oct. 10, GNA - After several weeks of preparation the Ghana First Peace Train took off with a bang on Thursday carrying a batch of musicians and other performing artistes, heading to Bolgatanga and Bawku in the Upper East Region. A release from the Accra Office of the World Bank said; they would be met by another batch of local artistes, traditional ruler, religious bodies, the youth and the common goal is a simple one - peace and nothing else but peace.

Some of the popular names on the Train are Diana Hopeson; Amandzeba; Shasha Marley; Kwaw Kesse (Abodam); Adane Best and Ohemaa Mercy. Others are; Chemphe; 5 Five; Spirit; Wutah; Kitchen; Blaq Swede; Sherifatu Gunu; Rev Lenny Akpade; Grace Ashey and Ceasar. The rest are; Slow Gem; Philipa Berfi; Jane and Irene; Reggy Zippy; Isaac; Cee, Ampong; A.B. Crentsil; Patty; Okuraseni Samuel; Jerry Borketey and the indomitable King Ayisoba.

With just about two months left for Ghana's landmark presidential and parliamentary elections, many Ghanaians and friends of Ghana have had cause to worry about the country's ability to remain the oasis and beacon of peace in a hitherto stormy neighborhood, the release said. According to the release, "over the past few months, the electioneering process has been beset with many reports of violence, fighting and profound bickering. Even during intra-party primaries, some people were reported to have lost their lives. The good thing is that Ghanaians by their nature are very peaceful and peace loving, so it is not a surprise that many initiative have already sprung up with the aim of promoting peace".

With the slogan: "GHANA FIRST. WE LOVE PEACE," the United Ghanaian Artistes for Peace (UGAP), featuring all the winners of the prestigious MUSIGA 2007 Awards and other leading Ghanaian artistes first worked very hard to produce a Peace Song - We Love Peace, which is gradually becoming a hit, and a video to match, which will be making its debut this week. Mr S.K. Boafo, Minister of Chieftaincy and Culture, who played a leading role in bringing the Peace Train idea into fruition said, "Ghana is all we have, and we should stop at nothing to ensure that peace prevails during this election. We have done it before, and we should do it again".

Mr Ishac Diwan, World Bank Country Director for Ghana, in whose house the idea was conceived during a reception in honor of the Awardees, commended the voluntary spirit with which the artistes are pursuing this peace agenda. He said: "it was a good feeling to see these young musicians take up what was just a little discussion from its beginning to such a level, that we now have not just a nice song and a beautiful video, but a whole platform which is bringing many peace loving people together for a noble course."

Nana Adwoa Awindor, Chief Executive Officer of Premier Productions, called for support from all to enable the Train to travel across the country with the message of Peace. 1