The Sunshine Art, Music & Achievers (SAMA) awards came off last Saturday 2nd July, 2005 at Alliance Francaise in Accra.

Twelve (12) personalities were awarded. They were Lucky Mensah (Kente Award), Eric Agyeman (Ahomansiahene), Albert Oparah Mensah (Best Sound Engineer), Big Ben (Top Music Distributor), APAGYA NE AKOBEN (Kpanlogo award), Hannah Marfo (Nwomtofohemaa), Osuani Afrifa (David Sanku), Bishop Michael Osei Bonsu (Top Selling Album), Charles Eloh (Consistent Highlife Artiste), including three post humous awards which went to Bob Santo, Terry Bonchaka, Akwasi Ampofo Agyei.

The attraction of the awards nite was Albert Oparrah Mensah, the blind keyboardist and sound engineer, who is the only blind sound engineer in Africa, and has produced other blind musicians in Ghana and Sierra Leone. Oparrah Mensah who gorgeously climbed the stage to receive his award was happily embraced by Mac Tontoh, a renowned musician of international repute, and a board member of the National Commission on Culture who was the guest of honour amid wild applause from the audience.

Eric Agyeman who received the Ahomansiahene award performed so creditably with his guitar on stage with Ralph Karikari on bass guitar to prove that he really deserved the award. Lucky Mensah was superb in his class. The Octopus Band was also applauded for their good show and performance on stage.

Humble Lion the MC for the awards event was also at his best. SAMA Awards event at Alliance Francaise was full of live performances by various artistes including comedian Sea Boy, and they deserve a pat of their shoulder.

According to Okyeame Kwame Bediako, president of SAMA, now that SAMA has sailed through the storm that erupted after SAMA launch in January this year, next year’s SAMA awards event will be better and more lively, watch out.