Club Beer, Accra Brewery Limited’s (ABL) flagship brand has increased the tempo of its 85th anniversary celebrations with a series of presentations to some Ghanaian highlife musicians, in recognition of their individual contributions to the socio-economic development of the country, as the company continues its efforts at reigniting authentic Ghanaian music, highlife.

These decorated musicians who have become icons in their chosen careers include Nana Kwame Ampadu, Ben Brako, A.B Crentsil and Gyedu-Blay Ambolley. Others are Akosua Agyepong and the evergreen Agya Koo Nimo (born Kwabena Boa-Amponsem) who also celebrates his 85th birthday this year. A presentation was also made to Bice Osei Kuffour, as President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA). They are among 25 carefully selected individuals to be honoured by Club Beer as part of its anniversary activities.

The exciting interactions with the Musicians involved the presentation to them of specially woven Amammere (meaning tradition in Akan) Kente Cloths displayed with the Nsaa Adinkra symbols, representing tradition, authenticity and originality.

In his introductory remarks, Mikki Osei Berko, Brand Ambassador of Club Beer, paid glowing tributes to the musicians for their talent and dedication to their chosen genre of music which has provided entertainment and life lessons to many Ghanaians through their music.

Senior Brands Manager of ABL, Ewurafua Addo-Atuah, said presentation of the Amammere Kente is the company’s token of appreciation for the pivotal role highlife music plays in Club’s desire to provide refreshment and sociability to Ghanaians with its beer and sponsored highlife music events called Club Live.

Ms. Addo-Atuah noted that the programme which ran for the greater part of 2015 involved the organisation of a number of Club Live music events that featured performances by some of the highlife musicians that were honoured playing at select locations and during traditional festivals to ‘Charlies’ around Ghana.

“As part of Club’s efforts to sensitize and whip up enthusiasm in the revival of highlife music, Club Live performances were recorded and televised for the benefit of those who were not able to take part in the events and we look forward to the next round of events scheduled to take place this year” she intimated. Bice Osei Kuffour, President of MUSIGA, on behalf of the recipients, commended the company on its Club Live events since highlife music is what distinguishes Ghanaian music from other musical genres and has influenced musicians both locally and internationally.

He also expressed appreciation to Accra Brewery Limited for the honour done them as well as the company’s support of MUSIGA and its members over the years, through the Ghana Music Week celebrations and Welfare Fund for Aging Musicians.

Other activities planned for Club’s 85th anniversary include the outdooring of special edition commemorative labels and crowns, presentations to distributors and retailers as well as nationwide in-bar reward promotions for ‘Charlies’.