The National Theatre will play host to the Sunshine Arts and Music Awards (SAMA) 2006 on Saturday December 9 in Accra.

Categories include Kente award for musician of the year, highlife song of the year, Kaarewa award for excellence, Edinkafo award for pacesetters, Seperewa award for best guitarist and Nwomtofohemaa award for best female singer.

Others are Gome award for percussionist of the year, Kpanlogo award or best traditional group, best gospel song writer, gospel song of the year, gospel discovery of the year, best music distributor and music ambassador.

Musicians shortlisted for some of the awards include Lucky Mensah, Ofori Amponsah, Oheneba Kissi, Kwabena Kwabena, Daasebre Gyamena, Dr. K. Gyasi, Jerry Hansen, Nana Danso Abiam, Afro Moses, Eddie Quansah and Togbe Ansah.

The rest are Rex Omar, Wutah, Samini, King Ayisoba, Abirekyereba Kofi Sammy, Asabea Cropper, Ewurama Badu, Osei Korankye, Christiana Love, Grace Ashy, Philippa Baafi, Awura Esi and Comfort Annor.

At a press launch held at the Alliance Francaise in Accra, the Minister for Chieftaincy and Culture, Hon. S.K. Boafo noted that Ghana was once respected for its highlife with its accompanying educative lyrics.

In a speech read on his behalf, he regretted the wanton use of sex as a tool by hiplife artistes adding that hiplife needs a focus that would identify it with the rich Ghanaian cultural heritage.

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of SAMA, Okyeame Kwame Bediako announced that cash prizes, kente and other Ghanaian woven cloths plus personal accident insurance bonds will be given to award winners.

He said the awards are meant to encourage musicians who are inspired by the rich Ghanaian musical resources and actually employ its use in their compositions.

The Public Relations Officer of SAMA, Prince Afotey Laryea added that the awards is geared towards the promotion of Ghana?s rich musical heritage, which is being overshadowed by the influx of foreign music.

"Not only have we borrowed rhythms from the West at the expense of ours, we have also infested our lyrics with the deadly virus of profanity, which is not healthy for the Ghanaian music industry", he said.

Earlier, King Ayisoba entertained guests with an inspiring rendition of his now famous I Want to See My Father, amidst cheers from the audience.

The Great Allan Family, a cultural group treated the patrons to a number of Ga traditional music interspersed with trumpets, trombones and saxophones.

Groups and musicians expected to perform at the ceremony include the Ghana Dance Ensemble, Kukyeku Kyeku Bamboo Orchestra, Azonko Simpi Orchestra, King Ayisoba, Nana Kwame Ampadu, Felix Bell, Paapa Yankson, Agya Koo Nimo and Christiana Love.

SAMA has over the past years emerged as one of the organisations spearheading the promotion of authentic Ghanaian music.

The awards ceremony is sponsored by GTV with support from Johnsons Savings and Loans Ltd.