The prestigious annual musical fiesta to acknowledge the contributions and achievements of Ghanaian musicians dubbed "Ghana Music Awards 2008," was launched in Accra on Tuesday night with fan and pageantry. The event attracted the nations top musicians, ministers of state, diplomats, journalists and a cross section of the general public. The award winners that have been classified under 26 categories, would include, the topmost honour, Artiste of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Hiplife Artiste of the Year, Hiplife Song of the Year, Hiplife Album of the Year and Highlife Artiste of the Year. The others are Highlife Song of the Year, Highlife Album of the Year, Gospel Artiste of the Year, Gospel Song of the Year, Gospel Album of the Year, Pop Song of the Year, Reggae Song of the Year and African Artiste of the Year. There are also Best Collaboration of the Year and Discovery of the Year. The rest are Best Male Vocal Performance (Solo/Group), Best Female Vocal Performance (Solo/Group), Traditional Artiste(s) of the Year, Instrumentalist of the Year, Best Music Video Directing of the Year, Best Lyricist of the Year, Record Label of the Year and the Recording Engineer of the Year. The event was jointly organized by Charter House, Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations and MTN Mobile Communication network. According to Mrs Theresa Ayoade, Chief Executive Officer of Charter House, the most popular Artiste whose work exerted the greatest impact on the music scene would be adjudged by the selection committee, planning committee and the general public as the Artistes of the year. The artiste must have released songs on an album that achieved prominence and must have commanded a great deal of popularity and audience appeal during the year under review. The excitement of the audience was climaxed when TV3 mentor stars Cee and Isaac the Show Boy mounted the stage to give rendition of their popular song "Ewurade Asem." Nana Akomea, Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment, Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng Minister of Tourism, Mr Samuel Kwaku Boafo, Minister for Culture and Chieftaincy Affairs and officials of Charter House, MTN and some seasoned musicians jointly unveiled new plaques for the award. Source: GNA