Gradually, it is becoming tensed as Ghanaian musicians and music lovers are divided as to who should be nominated and be crowned Artiste of the Year at this year’s Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA).
The objective of the 25th edition of the TGMA is to identify, recognize, and reward outstanding achievements in the music industry.
The process for the nomination began on January 29, 2024, when a call was made to the industry and its stakeholders to submit their works from January 1 to December 31, 2023.
The organizers, after receiving thousands of entries by February 29, unveiled the nominees on Thursday, March 28.
Many musicians and fans expressed sentiments about some categories; prominent among them was the “Most Popular Song of the Year.”
This category saw Black Sherif, Gyakie, Joyce Blessing, Bandy Banero, KiDi, King Promise, Kuami Eugene, Mr. Drew, Nacee, Olivetheboy, Sarkodie, and Stonebwoy battling it out for the coveted award for the most popular song they released.
Amerado, after missing a spot in that category, made an emotional appeal to Charter House for the exclusion of his Most Popular Song “Kwaku Ananse,” which made waves last year with many dancing and nodding to its witty lyrics.
Against this backdrop, the Head of Public Events and Communications for Charter House, Robert Klah, disclosed in a media interview that a formal petition was submitted by Amerado’s team, which is currently under review.
He indicated that the song would be added to the Most Popular Song of the Year category if the petition was justified after the review.
“Amerado’s team has directly reached out to us regarding the exclusion of ‘Kwaku Ananse’ from the Most Popular Song of the Year category. He has submitted his petition. The board will deliberate on that, and if it is deemed justified, his song will be included.” Klah said.
Meanwhile, Sister Afia also expressed shock in an X post about how the organizers kept snubbing her and wondered what she had done to the TGMA board for them to downplay her efforts ever since she started making music.
Klah refuted her claims and charged her to reach out if she believed she was unfairly treated.
Music lovers also shared their disappointment in the organizers for some names and songs they included in this year’s nomination lists at the expense of some musicians who, to them, had a good year per the year under review, yet their names were excluded.
Since 2000, the awards scheme has become the pivot on which the music industry spins, and for 24 years, the scheme has held the music, the people, and the culture of Ghana.
Source: Ghana/MaxTV/MaxFM/max.com.gh/Joyceline Natally Cudjoe
