By Emmanuel AKOMEA
The Secretary-General of the Ghana Commission for UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), Ama Serwah Nerquaye-Tetteh, has emphasised the importance of recognising and preserving intangible cultural heritage, such as music, alongside tangible resources like gold and bauxite.
She said it is important to ensure that future generations can appreciate and celebrate the legacy of Ghanaian musicians while commending Charterhouse’s efforts in establishing the Ghana Music Hall of Fame.
“Music is a powerful and creative form of cultural expression, and it is essential to ensure that future generations have the opportunity to appreciate and celebrate the legacy of our musicians. Charterhouse’s efforts in establishing the Ghana Music Hall of Fame are commendable, as they will ensure that our musical legends are honoured and immortalised,” she noted.
Ms. Nerquaye-Tetteh also highlighted the significance of the initiative in reminding Ghanaians of their cultural journey through music, allowing them to reflect on their identity and heritage. She expressed gratitude to Charterhouse for their dedication to this important cause.
During the Telecel Ghana Music Awards industry mixer with Artiste of the Year, she said with regards to the vital Legacy Project, which encompasses the establishment of the Ghana Music Hall of Fame, her outfit is committed to preserving and promoting Ghana’s rich cultural heritage.
As part of their contribution, she mentioned that after years of consideration, highlife will be recognised by the international organisation as a product of Ghanaian origin. “This year at UNESCO, we are listing highlife as an original product of Ghana,” she said.
By maintaining high standards in collection management and ensuring a strong connection to UNESCO’s initiatives, she indicated it can enhance the cultural heritage offerings in Ghana and attract music enthusiasts from around the world.
Theresa Ayoade, the Chief Executive Officer of Charterhouse Productions, organisers of the TGMA, revealed their intent of organising the ‘Industry Mixer’ event for the first time.
She stated: “We are excited to embark on this inaugural endeavour, which is particularly meaningful as it coincides with our 25th anniversary. While we have traditionally integrated elements of celebration into our main festival calendar, we recognised the need for a dedicated event to unite the industry. Our other events bring together a mix of industry professionals, the public and fans; but we wanted to create an occasion where the focus is solely on fostering connections within the industry”.
She added that it was the first time organising this event and it is also an opportunity to honour the Artiste of the Year. The event aims to provide a platform for them to share their journey and experiences with the industry, thereby celebrating their legendary status.
The reigning Artiste of the Year, Stonebwoy, delivered a splendid performance to climax the silver jubilee celebrations of the prestigious Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) alongside Adane Best, Perez Music, among others.
