The Jazz Society of Ghana in collaboration with Stanbic Bank has launched the Stanbic Bank Ghana Jazz Festival scheduled for December 1 to December 10, this year.

The festival under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism is expected to be an annual affair.

In a speech read by Kweku Opoku, a member of the of the Jazz Society of Ghana on behalf of the President of the Jazz Society of Ghana, he said the Jazz Society of Ghana (JSG) was started last year by a group of dedicated jazz enthusiasts with a determination to spread the appreciation of jazz music between the youth and adults and the support of live jazz by local musicians.

Jazz Society of Ghana aims at promoting and fostering an appreciation of Jazz music in all its forms, encourage the playing of live Jazz at selected venues as well as actively encouraging young musicians and enthusiasts to develop their talent and appreciation of jazz music.

JSG will also provide and encourage Jazz appreciation in schools liaise with the form affiliations with other Jazz associations worldwide.

In May 2005, the JSG hosted the 21-piece University of Maryland and Eastern Shore jazz Ensemble who gave two performances, which formed part of an educational tour of Ghana.

Following what has generally been acclaimed as one of the most successful jazz events in Ghana , it is now teaming up with the Stanbic Bank and other Jazz support groups to promote the first Ghana Jazz Festival.

The festival will include four days of jazz workshops, lectures and concerts by Jazz performers from Ghana including Okyerema Asante, a versatile percussionist, composer, producer and teacher and the Hewale Sounds. There will be guest artistes from South African and the United States of America.

The Managing Director of Stanbic (Ghana) Limited, Mr. Jimmy Mabon said they are teaming up with the JSG to support Jazz because it is part of their social responsibility to create awareness of perfuming arts in Ghana.

The Minister of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City, Jake Obetsebi Lamptey who officially launched the festival, entreated all Ghanaians who are Jazz enthusiasts to convert others to this musical type since it will turn give a boost to the tourism industry, bring more people to the country and increase the number of investors in the country.

He noted that when there is an infusion of Jazz in Ghanaian music, it will raise the standard of music in the country.

As part of the launch Nat Brew (Amandzeba), Rex Omar and others performed to entertain guests at the launch.