Finally curtains have been drawn for this year?s much publicized Ghana Music Awards Festival to roll. At Alisa Hotel in Accra, where the launch took place last Wednesday, February, 8, 2006, there probably couldn't have been a bigger gathering of stake holders in the music industry. Hiplife, highlife and gospel musicians were all there in their numbers. And so were, music producers, sound engineers and some other stake holders in the music industry.

On the faces of these artistes, were sheer excitements that spelled out how glad they were to witness the opening of another great music festival. Celebrating its 7th anniversary this year, the Ghana Music Awards Festival which will run over a period of five days will also involve performances from some internationally acclaimed artistes. It is expected that artistes such as Awilo Longomba from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rebecca Malope from South Africa, Blu3 from Uganda, Sammy Okposo from Nigeria and many others will be in the country to celebrate the festival.

Speaking at the launch, the event Director of Charterhouse, Mrs. Theresa Ayoade who gave a review of last year?s event said Charterhouse has over the years tasked itself with the responsibility of shaping-up the Awards each year. She said this year, it is expected that the event will be celebrated massively enough to meet that of other internationally known Awards. Mrs. Ayoade was however quick to add that this can only be made possible if other institutions and industries give their full pledged support to the event.

Mrs. Ayoade mentioned that over the years the Ghana Music Awards Festival had received sole sponsorship from only corporate bodies and that if the government, industries and other institutions fail to render their support, the Music Awards Festival will not be able to spread its tentacles to compete with other internationally known music awards.

The Deputy Minister of Tourism Mr. Asamoah Boateng who was also present at the event said, the Ghana Music Awards Festival has for the past six years maintained its position as the biggest event in the entertainment calendar of the country. And that his outfit will start discussions as to how to support the festival. At the event, the cat was finally let out of the bag when the names of all artistes who have been nominated for this year?s awards were made public for the first time. Also present at the occasion was the president of MUSIGA, Alhaji Sidiku Buari.

Click here for pictures from the launch.