Accra, March 19, GNA- The prestigious annual musical fiesta to acknowledge the contributions and achievements of Ghanaian musicians dubbed "Ghana Music Awards 2008," was launched in Accra on Tuesday night with fan and pageantry.

The event attracted the nations top musicians, ministers of state, diplomats, journalists and a cross section of the general public.

The award winners that have been classified under 26

categories, would include, the topmost honour, Artiste of the

Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Record of the Year,

Hiplife Artiste of the Year, Hiplife Song of the Year, Hiplife

Album of the Year and Highlife Artiste of the Year. Others are: Highlife Song of the Year, Highlife Album of the

Year, Gospel Artiste of the Year, Gospel Song of the Year,

Gospel Album of the Year, Pop Song of the Year, Reggae Song of

the Year, African Artiste of the Year, Best Collaboration of the

Year and Discovery of the Year The rest are: Best Male Vocal Performance (Solo/Group),

Best Female Vocal Performance (Solo/Group), Traditional

Artiste(s) of the Year, Instrumentalist of the Year, Best Music

Video Directing of the Year, Best Lyricist of the Year, Record

Label of the Year and the Recording Engineer of the Year. The event was jointly organized by Charter House, Ministry of

Tourism and Diaspora Relations and MTN Mobile Communication

network. According to Mrs Theresa Ayoade, Chief Executive Officer of

Charter House, the most popular Artiste whose work exerted

the greatest impact on the music scene would be adjudged by

the selection committee, planning committee and the general

public as the Artistes of the year. The artiste must have released songs on an album that

achieved prominence and must have commanded a great deal of

popularity and audience appeal during the year under review. The excitement of the audience was climaxed when TV3

mentor stars Cee and Isaac the Show Boy mounted the stage to

give rendition of their popular song "Ewurade Asem." Nana Akomea, Minister of Manpower, Youth and

Employment, Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng Minister of Tourism,

Mr Samuel Kwaku Boafo, Minister for Culture and Chieftaincy

Affairs and officials of Charter House, MTN and some seasoned

musicians jointly unveiled new plaques for the award.