The buzz around Ghana’s biggest music event, the 26th Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA), reached a fever pitch on March 15, 2025, as Charterhouse, in collaboration with Telecel Ghana, officially unveiled the list of nominees. The announcement, which aired live on TV3 and across all TGMA social media platforms, has set the stage for an electrifying showdown in the country’s music industry.
A Record Number of Submissions
This year’s nomination process kicked off on January 21, 2025, and closed on February 16, 2025. Artists and music groups across Ghana were invited to submit their projects, covering works released between January 1 and December 31, 2024. According to organizers, over 1,000 projects were submitted by more than 100 artists and groups, all hoping to secure a spot on Ghana’s most prestigious music awards platform.
Following weeks of thorough review and deliberations by key industry stakeholders and the TGMA selection committee, the final nominees were carefully chosen. The organizers assured the public that the selection process was conducted with fairness and transparency, ensuring that only the most deserving acts made it to the list.
A Celebration of Ghanaian Music Excellence
The Telecel Ghana Music Awards continue to play a vital role in recognizing and rewarding musical talent while inspiring the next generation of artists. Beyond the glitz and glamour, the awards foster unity among musicians, industry players, and music lovers, reinforcing the impact of Ghanaian music both locally and internationally.
This year’s grand event is scheduled for May 3, 2025, at the Grand Arena in Accra, Ghana. It promises to be a night of breathtaking performances, emotional victories, and unforgettable moments as fans eagerly anticipate who will take home the coveted awards.
Here Are the 2025 TGMA Nominees:
Artiste of the Year
- Kweku Smoke
- Team Eternity
- Joe Mettle
- King Paluta
- King Promise
- Stonebwoy
- Black Sherif
Best New Artiste
- Lali x Lola
- AratheJay
- Rap Fada
- Team Eternity
- Beeztrap KOTM
- Kwesi Amewuga
Best Male Vocal Performance
- Kofi Nuel – Do Not Fear
- Emmanuel Judah – Aseda
- MOG Music – Ahouden Fofro
- Ayisi – Can I Live
- Joe Mettle – Obo Awon Oba
Best Female Vocal Performance
- Naana Asiedu – Defe Defe
- Lordina the Soprano – Simply Trusting Everyday
- Esther Goodwyll – I Choose to Praise
- Titi Owusu – Nobody
- Mima Africa – On Fire
Best Hiplife/HipHop Artiste
- Amerado
- Beeztrap KOTM
- Kweku Smoke
- Black Sherif
- King Paluta
- Sarkodie
- Medikal
Best Rap Performance
- Eno Barony
- Kweku Smoke
- Okyeame Kwame
- Sarkodie
- Lyrical Joe
- Flowking Stone
Best Gospel Artiste
- Joe Mettle
- Piesie Esther
- Empress Gifty
- Diana Hamilton
- Team Eternity Ghana
- MOG Music
Best HipHop Song
- Joey B – Princess
- Kweku Smoke – Holy Ghost
- Kwaw Kese ft. Kofi Mole – Awoyo Sofo
- Black Sherif – Kilos Milos
- Sarkodie ft. Beeztrap KOTM – Amen
- Beeztrap KOTM ft. Oseikrom Sikanii – Fly Girl
Best Afrobeat Song
- OlivetheBoy – Asylum
- Lasmid – Puul
- KiDi ft. Black Sherif – Lomo Lomo
- Mr Drew – Sneaky
- Beeztrap KOTM – Yesu
- King Promise – Favourite Story
Best Hiplife Song
- Eno Barony ft. King Paluta – Soja Go Soja Come
- Black Sherif – Rebel Music
- Tulenkey ft. Beeztrap KOTM – Bad Feeling
- Okyeame Kwame ft. Kuami Eugene – No Competition
- Sarkodie – No Sir
- Lyrical Joe ft. Kuami Eugene – Enter
Best Highlife Song
- Kuami Eugene – Canopy
- King Paluta – Aseda
- Fameye – Very Soon
- Amerado – Abronoma
- Rap Fada ft. King Paluta – Odo Bi Ye Bad
- Kofi Kinaata – Effiakuma Broken Heart
Best Urban Contemporary Gospel Song
- Scott Evans – Call
- Joe Mettle ft. Sandra Duah – Give Me Oil
- Nana Yaw Ofori Atta
- Team Eternity – Defe Defe
- Kobby Salm – Cast Your Burden
- Ohemaa Mercy ft. Kofi Owusu – Dry Bones
Best Reggae/Dancehall Song
- Amerado ft. Samini – Ankonam Remix
- Stonebwoy – Psalm 23
- Ras Kuuku – Road of Evil
- Samini – Chemistry
- Jupitar – I Keep Winning
- Moliy & Silent Addy – Shake It to the Max
Best Traditional Gospel Song
- MOG Music – Wo Ye
- Empress Gifty – Watch Me
- Piesie Esther – Ateene
- Diana Hamilton – The Doing of the Lord
- Mavis Asante – Victory
- Queendalyn ft. Judikay – Omewoya
Best Reggae/Dancehall Artiste
- Jupitar
- Samini
- Ras Kuuku
- Epixode
- Stonebwoy
- Rocky Dawuni
Songwriter of the Year
- Ayisi
- Kofi Kinaata
- Okyeame Kwame
- OlivetheBoy
- Team Eternity Ghana
Telecel Most Popular Song
- OlivetheBoy – Asylum
- KiDi ft. Black Sherif – Lomo Lomo
- Lasmid – Puul
- King Paluta – Aseda
- Black Sherif – January 9
- King Promise – Paris
- Team Eternity – Defe Defe
- Stonebwoy – Jejereje
Album of the Year
- Kweku Smoke- Kweku Jesus
- King Promise- True to self
- Stonebwoy- Up & Running
- Team Eternity- Testimony
- King Paluta-Give Time Some Time
- Kofi Kinaata- Kofi oo Kofi
With a star-studded nominee lineup and heightened anticipation for the main event, the 26th TGMA is set to be an unforgettable night of celebration and recognition of Ghana’s finest music talents.
Stay tuned for more updates as we count down to the biggest night in Ghanaian music!
Story by: Gideon Boateng Agyeman_univer.ug.edu.gh
