The recent African Music Week (AMW) Accra launch event, held on December 27, 2024, at the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), was a tremendous success.
The event served as the official unveiling of the highly anticipated music festival scheduled to take place from December 15 to 20, 2025. Attendees were treated to a night filled with impactful speeches, engaging panel discussions, and electrifying performances.
Mr. Yofi Grant, CEO of the Ghana Investment & Promotion Centre, started the evening with a warm welcome address. He emphasized the importance of AMW in showcasing Ghana’s music tourism potential and reinforcing the country’s position as a top destination for cultural experiences.
The Founder and President of African Music Week, Mr. Julz Ossom, introduced the initiative and outlined its objectives of fostering connections within Africa’s music industry and enhancing global visibility for African artists in Ghana and Canada.
A keynote address by Mr. Ruddy Kwakye, Founder & CEO of The Rave Group, followed. His speech titled “Music Tourism in Ghana: Leveraging it to Build a Sustainable Music Industry” highlighted how music tourism can drive economic growth, cultural exchange, and industry development.
The event featured notable addresses from key figures in the music industry:
– Mr. Bessa Simons, President of MUSIGA, discussed MUSIGA’s role in supporting the music tourism ecosystem and its benefits for Ghanaian artists.
– Mr. Rex Omar, Chairman of GHAMRO, focused on the importance of collective management organizations in developing a thriving music tourism framework and ensuring fair compensation for artists.
– Honorable Mark Okraku-Mantey, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, highlighted the government’s commitment to fostering a vibrant creative industry aligned with tourism development strategies.
The evening also included a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Eve and featuring industry experts such as Benjamin Anane-Nsiah (Deputy CEO, Ghana Tourism Authority), Khadijat El-Alawa (CEO, The Continent Live), and Rocky Dawuni (Grammy Nominated Artist).
The event showcased performances by renowned artists like Bessa Simons, Drupz, Feli Nuna, and Bugatti Bonsu from Canada, giving attendees a taste of the talent that will grace the stages at AMW 2025.
The night concluded with the official launch of AMW Accra, the unveiling of its new logo, and closing remarks by Mr. Julz Ossom.
With the upcoming African Music Week in 2025 set to bring together creatives, stakeholders, and audiences from across the continent and beyond, the launch event has set a solid foundation for a festival celebrating Africa’s rich music heritage and the collaborative efforts between Ghana and Canada.
