Telecel Ghana has marked 15 years as headline sponsor of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards, with the 27th edition of the awards producing a night of major wins, emotional tributes and renewed focus on the economic power of Ghana’s creative industry.
Held at the Grand Arena, the ceremony brought together musicians, industry stakeholders, corporate executives and entertainment enthusiasts for what organisers described as one of the most memorable editions in the awards scheme’s history.
The night belonged largely to Black Sherif, who emerged as Artiste of the Year for the second time, becoming only the fourth musician in the history of the awards to achieve the feat after VIP, Sarkodie and Stonebwoy.
The 24-year-old musician also secured Album of the Year for Iron Boy, Songwriter of the Year, Best Afro Pop Song for Sacrifice and Best Hip Hop Song for Where Dem Boyz, cementing his dominance on Ghana music’s biggest stage.
Medikal also enjoyed a successful evening after his hit song Shoulder won the Telecel Most Popular Song of the Year. He further picked up Best Hiplife Song, Collaboration of the Year and Best Hiplife/Hip-hop Artiste of the Year.
One of the emotional highlights of the evening was the lifetime achievement recognition awarded posthumously to highlife legend Daddy Lumba, whose contribution to Ghanaian music was celebrated through tribute performances by Ofori Amponsah, Okyeame Kwame and Kwabena Kwabena.
The awards ceremony, themed “A Touch of Glitter”, also featured performances from Wendy Shay, Kofi Kinaata, Lasmid, Samini and Piesie Esther.
Telecel’s senior leadership delegation, led by Group Chief Executive Officer Moh Damush, attended the event as the telecommunications company celebrated a partnership that began in 2011 under Vodafone Ghana before continuing following the company’s rebranding to Telecel in 2024.
Over the past 15 years, the partnership has supported the expansion of award categories, the TGMA Xperience Concert series across regional capitals and the TGMA in Schools initiative, while also contributing to the growth of Ghana’s wider creative arts industry.
In a video address played during the ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of Telecel Ghana, Patricia Obo-Nai, said music remained central to Ghana’s identity and cultural expression.
“Music and culture are at the heart of our identity because they connect us to our roots, our history, and our future,” she said.
She added that Telecel remained committed to supporting a resilient music industry where artistes were recognised for their talent and impact on society.
The Chief Executive Officer of Charterhouse Productions, Theresa Ayoade, also praised Telecel’s sustained backing of the awards scheme, describing the partnership as instrumental in projecting Ghanaian music beyond the country’s borders.
“For 27 years, the TGMA stage has amplified the heartbeat of the nation. It has celebrated excellence, preserved culture, inspired generations and projected Ghanaian music beyond our borders,” she stated.
The Telecel Music for Good Award was presented to Afrofusion duo Lali x Lola for their #CroxItOut breast cancer awareness campaign, which has engaged schools across five regions to educate young people on breast cancer prevention and early detection.
Other winners on the night included Moliy, Diana Hamilton, Strongman, Keche, Davido and Kojo Blak.
The event concluded with the Telecel Red Room after-party, where musicians, business executives and industry stakeholders gathered for networking and celebration.
Industry analysts say the continued investment by Telecel in the awards scheme reflects the growing commercial importance of Ghana’s music and creative economy, which increasingly contributes to tourism, digital streaming, fashion and youth employment across the country.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh