Accra Symphony Orchestra, AMA Collaborate To Promote Ghana Music

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has partnered with the Accra Symphony Orchestra (ASO), to promote African and Ghanaian music in a more positive way to the international community.

The partnership also aims at bringing cultural and economic benefits to the partners, whiles improving the quality of life of the people of Accra through music.

Speaking at the function to sign the Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) between the AMA and ASO, Dr Mensah Otabil, Founder of ASO and General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) said the choice of Accra for the project was justified, because it would positon ASO as the city's orchestral and cultural ambassador to the residents of the Metropolis.

'It was also to provide the necessary platform for ASO to share its musical experience with Accra residents including all international Sister City Programmes', he said.

Dr Otabil said ASO would create and implement programmes at parks and event centres within the city, create an incubator for the training and development of classical and opera music for young people and develop and nurture musical talents.

He said ASO was determined to represent Accra at international musical competitions and to help promote the city as a hub for the arts and culture in Ghana.

Mohammed Adjei Sowah, Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of the AMA, expressed gratitude to Dr Otabil for his vision and for accepting to partner with the city on this exciting journey.

He said the partnership with ASO would also add value 'to our international Sister Cities Programme between Accra and cities in the world'.

'Our intention as city authorities is to provide through this partnership, a unique opportunity for residents to enjoy, not only providing green spaces for relaxation, but also good music to provide calm within the hustle of their lives', he stated.

He said 'this will ultimately contribute to crime reduction in our communities because of the feel good effect and value that community concerts will being'.

Madam Korkor Amarteifio, Executive Director of ASO, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said the music industry was booming with new talents and successful musicians and the ASO would continue to support the young ones to enable them to sell Ghana through music to the rest of the world.

She said, 'when we think of great artistic creations, we invariably associate them with the cities of their birth, hence throughout history, cities have incubated and cultivated the creative energies of its citizens'.

She said it is in cities that people feel safe and secure enough to reach out and grap something bigger than themselves and their immediate needs.

Madam Amarteifio said through extraordinary had work of the musicians and the generous support of the people of Accra, we saw the young orchestra grow and flourish.

'I admire the courage of the musicians, who decided to adopt classical music and opera as their music of choice, learned it, practising it, and creating audiences for it', she said,

GNA