Entertainment
Nanabanyin Dadson Honoured with Prestigious TGMA Titan Award
The Palms Convention Centre at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel was ablaze with glitz, and electrifying performances as the 26th Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) celebrated its winners in an exclusive event dubbed “Nite with AOTY” on Friday, June 6, 2025.
The night was not just about music—it was also a night of honour and legacy, with veteran journalist and cultural icon Nanabanyin Dadson taking home the prestigious Titan Award for his immense contributions to Ghana’s music and arts ecosystem.
This award was presented by the CEO of Charterhouse, Mrs. Theresa Ayoade, who lavished praise on Dadson, highlighting his invaluable contributions to the industry and to the Ghana Music Awards scheme since its inception.
Titan Award: Nanabanyin Dadson’s Enduring Legacy
Nanabanyin Dadson is a distinguished Ghanaian journalist, arts critic and educator whose influential career spans over three decades. His work has left a lasting imprint on Ghana’s creative and cultural landscape – particularly in the areas of music journalism, arts criticism, and cultural tourism.
A graduate of the University of Ghana with a degree in English and a diploma in Performing Arts, Mr Dadson further pursued postgraduate studies in African Studies and Communication.
He began his journalism career as an arts reporter and columnist with The Mirror and Daily Graphic, before becoming Editor of Graphic Showbiz. Under his leadership, the paper rose to prominence as Ghana’s foremost publication dedicated to entertainment, music and the creative arts.
Throughout his career, Mr Dadson has consistently championed the arts and tourism sectors, using his platform to advocate for greater visibility, understanding and appreciation of Ghana’s rich cultural heritage.
His commentary and reportage helped elevate cultural tourism into national conversation, encouraging the public and policymakers alike to recognise its value.
His work has been published in a range of national and international outlets – including West Africa Magazine, African Concord, Africa Magazine, Africa Asia, and the Torino Film Festival Magazine – and cited in academic publications such as Africa Cinema, Politics and Culture by Manthia Diawara.
He also contributed to landmark publications including Jubilee Ghana – A 50-Year News Journey Through Graphic, the Journalism Style Book, and the Journalism Policy Guide for the Graphic Communications Group.
Widely acknowledged as the only arts journalist of his time with both academic and practical grounding in the arts, Mr Dadson brought critical depth, eloquence and clarity to his writing.
His stated mission – to move the arts from the margins and reposition them as a serious and essential part of public discourse – has been largely realised, due in no small part to his pioneering efforts.
Now serving as Head of the Department of Journalism, Visual and Digital Communication at the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) in Accra, he continues to mentor and inspire the next generation of media practitioners.
He has also delivered lectures at institutions such as New York University (Ghana), the Ghana Institute of Journalism, and BlueCrest College.
His contributions have been recognised with several awards – including the Ministry of Information’s Artswriter Prize (1986, 1988), the Ghana Journalists Association’s Arts & Culture Writer of the Year (1996), and the GJA Recognition Award for Journalism (2004).
Nanabanyin Dadson remains a towering figure in Ghanaian cultural journalism – a passionate advocate for the arts and tourism, and a custodian of Ghana’s creative legacy.
Receiving the Titan Award, Dadson was celebrated as a true custodian of Ghana’s creative legacy, whose work has elevated cultural tourism and arts discourse in the nation.
Other Honourees of the Night
The event also recognised two other outstanding personalities:
1. Opoku Sanaa – Instrumentalist of the Year
A renowned bassist and music director, Sanaa has performed globally, from Expo 2020 Dubai to the Coca-Cola Arena, and worked with top artists like Joe Mettle, Diana Hamilton, and Cwesi Oteng. His 2024 album, “It’s Time”, showcases his genre-defying talent, solidifying his place among Africa’s finest instrumentalists.
2. Susuma Pan-African Dance & Music Ensemble – Traditional Artiste of the Year
Founded in 1991 by Nana Kwame Dadzie, this award-winning ensemble has taken Ghanaian traditional music and dance to global stages, preserving and promoting the country’s rich cultural heritage.
![Mrs Georgina Quaittoo [third from right] pose with some members of the Association Photos Okai Elizabeth.](https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Mrs-Georgina-Quaittoo-third-from-right-pose-with-some-members-of-the-Association-Photos-Okai-Elizabeth-400x240.jpg)
![Mrs Georgina Quaittoo [third from right] pose with some members of the Association Photos Okai Elizabeth.](https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Mrs-Georgina-Quaittoo-third-from-right-pose-with-some-members-of-the-Association-Photos-Okai-Elizabeth-80x80.jpg)
The time has come for musicians who were outstanding in the year under review in 2025 to earn nomination at Ghana’s prestigious music awards.
The much-awaited nomination for the 27th Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) is slated for today, March 14, 2026.
As part of measures to build up anticipation, the announcement will commenced with an hourly unveiling of nominees across all official TGMA social media platforms and partner channels from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Everything would be wrapped up in the evening with a special ceremony to officially kick off the 27th TGMA season, featuring the unveiling of the Big Five categories alongside key remarks from industry stakeholders at the Palms Convention Centre.
At the ceremony, the TGMA Calendar Indicating official schedule of activities leading up to the main awards ceremony will be unveiled.
Following the close of the submission window, the Board and the Selection Committee spent weeks reviewing works released during the year under review.
Each entry was carefully evaluated for artistic merit, technical excellence, and cultural impact to ensure that the final nominee list reflects the very best of Ghanaian music.
The 27th Telecel Ghana Music Awards is produced by Charterhouse in partnership with TV3, Closeup, British Council, refreshed by Guinness and powered by Telecel .
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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Thousands of music enthusiasts thronged the Adaklu Youth Resource Centre on Thursday night for the Torcher Experience Concert headlined by Ghanaian music icon Stonebwoy, blending entertainment with youth empowerment.
The atmosphere at the concert grounds changed, the moment Stonebwoy began his grand entry onto the stage at the “Torcher Experience” concert.
As the powerful Ewe song “Mele Gbagbe Há Wo le alia” started playing through the speakers, the crowd erupted with loud cheers and excitement waving their hands in unison, sang along, and some held up their phones with flashlights, lighting up the night as they waited to see the Bhim Nation President appear.
Notable of him, Stonebwoy stepped onto the stage with well-rehearsed symbolic choreography and energy, dressed stylishly as he was ushered on the stage by white-clad men wielding long sticks, from where he acknowledged the massive crowd.
The song created an emotional and energetic mood, making the audience feel connected to the performance. As he moved closer to the front of the stage, the cheers grew even louder, setting the tone for an unforgettable night of music and celebration in Ho and beyond as patrons celebrate music, unity and community spirit.
The venue came alive with excitement as fans sang along to popular songs and enjoyed energetic stage performances, creating a vibrant atmosphere that lasted late into the morning.
A delegation led by Mr James Gunu, together with Edem Agbana and Edem Kpotosu, Members of Parliament of Ketu North and Ho Central, respectively attended the event, and presented a citation and helped in cutting a birthday cake to the artiste in recognition of his contribution to music and youth development.
Mr Gunu commended Stonebwoy for projecting the Volta Region and Ghana onto the global stage through music while inspiring young people to pursue their talents and ambitions.
In a notable gesture during the concert, the artiste donated GH¢100,000 as seed funding towards the Volta Youth Development Fund, an initiative aimed at supporting youth entrepreneurship and creating opportunities for young people in the region.
Although the concert recorded massive patronage and lively performances, some patrons raised concerns about intermittent sound challenges; however, many remained at the venue until about 05:30am hours, cheering and calling for more performances as Stonebwoy thrilled the audience with his dynamic stagecraft and popular hits. GNA
