Entertainment
Nominations open for Western Gospel Awards
Prolific GH, organisers of Western Gospel Awards have opened nominations for the third edition of its award scheme aimed at recognizing and appreciating talents who are propagating the gospel of God through music in the Western region.
Artiste managers, producers, presenters, record labels and Gospel musicians can submit their entries online from July 1 to July 31.
Categories to be awarded include: Gospel Artiste of the Year, Gospel Collaboration of the Year, New Gospel Artiste of the Year, Female Gospel Artiste of the Year, Male Gospel Artiste of the Year, Gospel Song of the Year , Female Vocalist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Gospel Radio / TV Presenter of the Year, Gospel Radio / TV Show of the Year and Choral Choir / Group of the Year, Minister of the year (New).
The rest are Contemporary Choir / Group of the Year, Urban / Contemporary Gospel Artiste of the Year, Best Lyrical Content of the year, Producer of the Year, Sound Engineer of the Year, Instrumentalist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Gospel Music Video of the Year, Best Gospel Artiste – DIASPORA and Choreography / Mime Group of the Year.
In all, 22 awards will be given on the awards night come Sunday, November 5, 2023.
Organisers of the event (Prolific GH) said the award scheme aspire to foster quality works from Gospel artistes in the Western Region.
Last year, gospel musician KDM was adjudged the overall Artiste of the year at the Second Edition of the award scheme.
Cwesi Oteng graced the occasion with a perfomance and was awarded as a pace setter and contributor to Urban Gospel.
Rev. Amy Newman was honoured with the lifetime achievement award for her immense contribution to the Gospel Fraternity.
Dr. Steven Wayoe (CEO of Wayoe Engineering and Construction LTD) was also honoured for his Remarkable contribution to the growth of the Gospel industry in the Western Region.
The Kumasi metropolis was thrown into a state of frenzy last Saturday as thousands of fans flocked the Baba Yara Sports Stadium for Sarkodie’s Rapperholic Concert that climaxed the 2025 Momo Fest.
Despite a heavy rainfall, the event, powered by MTN, drew unprecedented crowds for the month-long initiative to promote financial inclusion, the use of mobile money, and raise awareness on MoMo fraud prevention.
The musical event was preceded by educational roadshows, cashless market fairs, and community engagement activities across the country.
Vendors at the MoMo Cashless Market and Fair, set up within the stadium premises, offered goods and services payable exclusively through mobile money, giving patrons a live demonstration of MoMo’s utility.
The concert, headlined by multiple award-winning rapper Sarkodie, featured performances from several high-profile Ghanaian artistes including Medikal, Kofi Kinaata, Donzy, Kweku Smoke, and Efya.
But the appearance of Shatta Wale, who joined Sarkodie on stage, took the excitement a notch higher as it marked a rare public collaboration between the two top acts.
The event would go into the history books as one of the largest music gatherings in Kumasi and a fitting conclusion to a festival that sought to blend innovation with entertainment.
Funeral rites for the late Ghanaian music icon, Charles Kwadwo Fosu, affectionately known as Daddy Lumba, will be held on December 6 at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
Later in the evening of December 6, there will be a DL cocktail party at the Rattray Park, which will feature top musicians in the country.
Announcing the funeral arrangements on behalf of the family, former Manhyia North Member of Parliament, Collins Owusu Amankwa, said the decision was reached after consultations with Manhyia, government, and other key stakeholders.
The family cautioned the public to desist from disrespecting the legend on social media by spreading falsehood about his marital status.
Daddy Lumba, 60, passed away on July 26, 2025, at the Bank Hospital in Accra after a short illness.
Following his death, a book of condolence was opened at his East Legon residence for loved ones, friends, colleagues, and fans to pay tribute to his iconic memory.
Subsequently, the government, in collaboration with the Creative Arts Agency, organised a candlelight vigil in his memory at Independence Square in Accra on August 2.
This was later followed by a One Week Observation at the same venue on August 30, which was attended by people from all walks of life.
Born on September 29, 1964, in Nsuta in the Ashanti Region, Daddy Lumba started his music career at a young age. He later joined the Lumba Brothers alongside Nana Acheampong in Germany before launching a solo career.
With about 32 albums and over 200 songs to his credit, Daddy Lumba thrilled the world with classic hits such as “Aben Wo Ha,” “Yentie Obiaa,” “Playboy,” “Theresa,” “Sika Asem,” “Mensei Da,” “Makra Mo,” and many others.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
