Entertainment
TGMA unveils nominees for 26th edition
Organisers of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) have unveiled nominations for the 26th edition of the awards.
A ceremony to unveil the awards held last Saturday at the Grand Arena was filled with shocks, surprises, and excitement.
The ultimate category, Artiste of the Year will see, Kweku Smoke, Joe Mettle, Team Eternity, King Promise, Black Sherif, King Paluta and reigning champion, Stonebwoy.
King Paluta, King Promise and Stonebwoy
Best New Artiste of the Year, a key category for the emerging talents to make a mark will feature Lali X Lola, Arathejay, Rap Fada, Beeztrap KOTM, and Kwesi Amewugah.
Lovers of gospel music will have a tough time choosing Empress Gifty, Joe Mettle, Team Eternity, Piesie Esther, Diana Hamilton or MOG Music as the Gospel Artiste of the Year.
Medikal, Sarkodie, King Paluta, Black Sherif, Kweku Smoke, Beeztrap and Amerado will battle it out for the Best Hiplife/Hip Hop Artiste of the Year crown.
A category which would generate controversy is the Best Rap Performance with a fierce contest between Sarkodie, Okyeame Kwame, Eno Barony, Lyrical Joe, Flowking Stone and Kweku Smoke.
There are other interesting categories like Highlife Song of the Year, Telecel Most Popular Song, Male and Female Vocalists of the Year among others up for grabs for the 26th edition of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards.
The reigning Artiste of the Year, Stonebwoy was nominated in the same category again in addition to Album/EP of the Year – “Up and Running”, Best Reggae/Dancehall Song – “Psalm 23”, Best Music Video – “Jejereje”, Best Reggae Dancehall Artiste, International Collaboration of the Year – “Ekelebe” featuring OdumoduBlvck, “Jiggle And Whine” featuring Spice, and Most Popular Song – “Jejereje”.
This year’s edition of Ghana’s biggest music night comes off on May 3, 2025, at the Accra International
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The stage is set for one of the most exciting nights in Ghanaian entertainment abroad as the Ghana Music Awards-USA @ 7 gears up for a spectacular edition themed around the global passion of football—The FIFA World Cup.
Scheduled for August 8, 2028 the highly anticipated event will take place live at the prestigious Hyatt Regency Princeton. This year’s edition promises a unique fusion of music and sports, celebrating the unifying power of both industries.
With the official theme, “Celebrating Our Culture, Music and Our Stars,” organizers are aiming to deliver an unforgettable experience that blends the excitement of the World Cup with the vibrant sounds of Ghanaian music.
The event is expected to attract music lovers, industry players, and members of the Ghanaian diaspora from across the United States and beyond.
Now in its seventh edition, the Ghana Music Awards-USA continues to serve as a major platform for honouring Ghanaian artistes and creatives who are making an impact globally.
Over the years, the scheme has grown in prestige, spotlighting both rising talents and established stars while strengthening cultural ties within the diaspora.
This year’s show will feature electrifying live performances from top Ghanaian and international acts, delivering a rich mix of genres including highlife, hiplife, afrobeats, and gospel.
Attendees can also look forward to a glamorous red carpet, award presentations, and a lively atmosphere inspired by the spirit of the World Cup.
Tickets and Access
Tickets for the event are now available, with organizers encouraging early purchase due to high demand. Patrons can secure their seats via the official Eventbrite page:
https://gmausa26.eventbrite.com
THE Board of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) has introduced a new ‘Swing Period’ policy aimed at ensuring songs released late in the year are fairly assessed for nominations.
The policy, applied for the first time in the 27th edition of the awards, allows songs released in December to be considered in the following year’s awards cycle if they meet specific eligibility criteria.
A statement released by the TGMA Board said, “To qualify, a song must have been released in December of the eligibility year, shown measurable impact during the period under review and not received a nomination in the previous awards cycle.”
It added that the decision follows three years of consultations with industry stakeholders and seeks to address concerns that late-year releases often gain traction too slowly to compete in their release year.
Under the new framework, two December releases secured nominations in the 27th TGMA: ‘Messiah’ by Sarkodie featuring Kweku Flick and ‘Excellent’ by Kojo Blakk featuring Kelvyn Boy.
TGMA Board stressed that the policy was intended to ensure the scheme reflects industry trends as music release patterns shift with digital consumption and changing audience behaviour.
They added that the awards body would continue refining its processes to uphold credibility and recognise impactful work across Ghana’s music landscape. -GNA
