Mr. John Payne, Country Director of the British Council Accra has said Ghana is a rich country of intellectuals in terms of live music and performance. "The importance of live music is to let your audience to appreciate the hard work put together in coming out with an incredible performance," he said.

Mr. Payne made this statement last Friday during the farewell event of choral and orchestral music performed live, organized by the Bi-Tonic Singers.

During an interview with Ghana News Agency, Mr. Payne noted that, within his three years of being the Country Director of British Council, Ghanaians are the most wealthy compared with other African countries he had worked, adding, "they are the most intellectuals he has come across in terms of live music and performance,"

The Farewell music event was a night of choral and orchestral music which was organized by the Bi-Tonic singers, expressing gratitude to Mr. John Payne in helping to promote live music performance.

The B-Tonic singers, the organizers of the event, is an inter-denomination choral group formed five years ago under the auspices of the British Council, with the vision of uplifting the spirit of the downhearted and the underprivileged in the society.

The groups that featured in the farewell music event were, Jeematron Meal Singers, the National Symphony Orchestra, Evangel Methodist Choir and Margaret Ferguson.

These groups presented Mr. Payne with various gifts in appreciation for his support during his term of office as Country Director of British Council.