A number of Artists and Musicians were honoured for their contribution to the art and entertainment industry at the fourth Sunshine Arts and Music Awards (SAMA) held at the National Theatre in Accra last Saturday.

A number of Artists and Musicians were honoured for their contribution to the art and entertainment industry at the fourth Sunshine Arts and Music Awards (SAMA) held at the National Theatre in Accra last Saturday.

The beneficiaries of the awards included Professor J. H. Nketia, Nana Kwame Ampadu and P. K. Yamoah. They received SAMA merit awards. Jerry Hanson, founder of the Ramblers International Band received special award.

George Jaral won the prize for being the best composer for Hilife music in 2005 while the prize of best comedian went to Agya Koo. King Ayisoba, the man with multiple voices was honoured as the man of the moment.

Christiana Love was adjudged the SAMA Nwom-tofohemaa 2005, while the kente award went to Ohene Kissi, Felix Bell, reggae innovation in Ghana.

There were awards for best instrumentalist, sound engineer, Kpalongo and best music distribution among others.

Mr. Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Minister for Chieftaincy and Culture, said artistes and for that matter, those in the music industry have a lot to offer mother Ghana by way of shaping the youth.

"The majority of their clients are the youth and therefore our musicians have the potentials to make or mar the development of our youth for the total development of this nation."

The Minister therefore urged them to compose songs that would shape the youth to become more disciplined and to inculcate into them the real Ghanaian culture.

Adding that if we fail to achieve this objective, then the generations yet unborn will not forgive us because the repercussions of our inability to instill the required discipline and good morals in the youth will be very devasting and this generation will forever be answerable.

Mr. Boafo commended the organizers of the awards programme which according to him will bring to the fore our rich cultural heritage which has to be jealously guarded and handed over to our generations in an unadulterated but in a refined state to be able to stand the test of time.

He also urged artistes to take advantage of the numerous economic programmes put in place by government to develop themselves and also increase the scope of their markets.

The Minister said some of the opportunities are the venture capital fund, funds for small and mediums enterprises and the BUSAC Fund which have been established to enable those in the private industries have access to government fund to develop their business.