Bessa Simons
The acting President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Bessa Henry Simons, has been honoured for his contribution to the development of the music industry in Ghana.
This was at the maiden edition of the annual Osabarimba Royal Awards held last Saturday at the Ridge Royal Hotel in Cape Coast, the Central regional capital.
The awards ceremony, organised by Ridge Royal Hotel in collaboration with the Oguaa Traditional Council, to celebrate and honour deserving individuals and organisations who worked to uplift the image of Cape Coast in particular and the region in general, was attended by a large number of personalities including creative arts industry stakeholders, traditional leaders, Â and politicians, among others.
Bessa Simons was presented with honourary award for promoting Cape Coast through music and mentoring young musicians in the region.
He expressed his profound gratitude to the organisers of the awards scheme for recognising his contribution to the development of the Ghanaian music industry.
The acting MUSIGA president, who believes his inclusion in the awards is as a result of his hard work, stressed that Ghanaian music had a bright future on the international music market.
He also expressed his profound gratitude to God and all his fans for the immense support he has had since joining the Ghanaian music industry three decades ago.
At the ceremony, nine other individuals were also given honourary awards for their selfless efforts in their various fields, and amongst them were Commissioner of Police (COP) Paul Manly Awuni, former Central Regional Police Commander and Mr. Bessa Simons, President of the Musician Union of Ghana.
The competitive category was segmented into Entertainment and Fashion, Banking and Finance, Media, Business, Beverage, Education, Health, Religion and Tourism, with over 40 awardees.
The highlife music, traditional and cultural dancing and music by cultural troupes, got some attendees on their feet, while others uncontrollably tapped their feet to the sweet tunes.
MTN Ghana was awarded the corporate social responsibility company of the year, the Ridge Royal Hotel took home the most outstanding Hospitality Institution and the Cape Coast Castle won the most fascinating tourist site.
Mr. Richard Kwadwo Nyarko, the Regional JoyNews Correspondent and the Atlantic Wave Radio were awarded the outstanding Media Personality and Station respectively.
The Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH) was awarded the most outstanding health facility in Cape Coast, Ghana Water Company (GWC) had the most effective public sector, while the Absa Bank was also awarded the Innovative and Supportive Bank, among others.
Speaking at the ceremony, Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II, the Oguaa Omanhene in whose honour the awards was instituted, said the hard work of certain individuals and organisations in the area over the years needed to be appreciated to encourage others to give off their best.
He said the awards would indirectly push other people and firms to perform better to also help develop Cape Coast.
Osabarimba noted that the award programme would be an annual activity to serve as a conscious reminder to all to keep fighting harder for the growth of Oguaa.
By George Clifford Owusu