Abrantie Amakye Dede Ghana's prolific music superstar, Abrantee Amakye Dede of the Apollo Hi-Kings International Band on Monday announced that the band would release the "Best of the Best Hi-Life Album" to re-established its dominance in the music industry. "The album would fuse the ancient hi-life rhythm with the modern simplistic movement to conform to the changing musical pattern as well as maintain the quality of authentic traditional hi-life music," Amakye Dede told the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

He said Hi-life had served and champions Ghanaian identity on the international music scene in the past and remained a viable force to perpetually maintain the national musical trademark. Amakye Dede acknowledged the enormous challenge posed by the hip-life bandwagon to other forms of music but stressed: "In the music industry, competition serves as a platform for rediscoveries, modification and transformations as well as the challenge to hit the top."

He said 2004 belongs to the hi-life industry and assured enthusiasts of classic and masterly shows. Assessing the music industry, the music superstar said the 2003 was turbulent for most musicians in particular and the entertainment industry in general due to the socio-economic conditions. He said the fortunes of the entertainment industry hinged largely on the socio-economic conditions in the country and prayed that the New Year would usher musicians into a new realm.

Amakye Dede also appealed to musicians to improve upon the quality of products, introduced more originality and personal identity to songs, which he described as a mark of excellence and maturity. "Adopting the rhymes, style and other classical identity of celebrities in the music industry is good, but cutting your own foot path is the best," Mr Amakye Dede emphasised.

He also appealed to the Government for tax relief on musical instruments, and wave Value Added Tax on performances. He said the contribution of the entertainment industry to the socio-economic development of the country especially; the tourism sector was tremendous and needed governmental push.