The 27th edition of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) lit up the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre on Saturday night, May 9, celebrating the cream of Ghanaian talent in a glittering display of music, fashion, and cultural pride.
Despite last-minute venue uncertainties that dominated pre-event chatter, the night belonged to breakout dominance, veteran recognition, and electrifying performances.
Organizers Charterhouse Productions navigated a notable logistical saga. The event was initially relocated from the iconic Grand Arena to the smaller Palms Convention Centre at La Palm Beach Hotel due to renovation works.
Public outcry and last-minute adjustments saw it return to the Grand Arena just days before showtime, allowing for the grand scale fans expected.
The red carpet, themed “A Touch of Glitter,” sparkled with celebrities showcasing bold fashion statements that blended Ghanaian heritage with contemporary glamour.
At the heart of the evening was Black Sherif, who solidified his status as one of Ghana’s most compelling contemporary voices.
The young rapper clinched the coveted Artiste of the Year award for the second time having previously won in 2023 beating strong contenders including Medikal, Stonebwoy, Wendy Shay, Sarkodie, and Diana Hamilton.
His 2025 album Iron Boy earned him Album/EP of the Year, while “Sacrifice” took Best Afropop Song and “Where Dem Boys” secured Best HipHop Song.
Black Sherif also won Songwriter of the Year, marking his first victory in that category. He walked away with around five awards, highlighting his commercial and creative dominance.
Notable Wins
Medikal emerged as a close runner-up in impact, securing approximately four awards. His collaboration “Shoulder” featuring Shatta Wale and Beeztrap KOTM claimed Most Popular Song of the Year and Collaboration of the Year. He also won Best Hiplife/HipHop Artiste, affirming his enduring influence in the rap and hiplife space.
Stonebwoy continued his reign as the king of reggae/dancehall, picking up his historic 10th Best Reggae/Dancehall Artiste award. The category win highlighted his unmatched consistency and international appeal over the years.
In other major categories, Kofi Kinaata won Best Highlife Artiste and Best Highlife Song for “It Is Finished,” reinforcing highlife’s vital place in Ghanaian music.
Wendy Shay took Best Afrobeats/Afropop Artiste, a strong showing for female representation in top categories.
In the gospel section, Diana Hamilton won Best Gospel Artiste, continuing gospel music’s growing mainstream prominence.
Moliy triumphed in International Collaboration of the Year with the “Shake It to the Max” remix featuring Shenseea, Skillibeng, and Silent Addy (which also won related song categories).
Kojo Blak was named Best New Artiste, signaling fresh talent rising through the ranks.
A deeply emotional highlight was the Lifetime Achievement Award (sometimes referenced as Highlife Achievement) presented to legendary highlife icon Daddy Lumba (posthumously or in honor of his legacy, received by Abusuapanyin Tupac).
The recognition celebrated Lumba’s decades-long impact, with over 33 albums that shaped generations and mentored icons like Ofori Amponsah.
Performances throughout the night featured heavyweights such as Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, Black Sherif, Gyakie, Wendy Shay, Medikal, and gospel stars like Piesie Esther and Diana Hamilton, delivering high-energy sets that had the audience on its feet.
Technical categories also shone, with wins for vocal performances, rap delivery (Strongman took Best Rap Performance), and music videos.
The TGMA remains Ghana’s premier music honors, organized under the auspices of MUSIGA and sponsored by Telecel. This year’s edition not only honored artistic excellence across genres from highlife and hiplife to Afrobeats, gospel, and reggae/dancehall but also spotlighted ongoing conversations about infrastructure for major events in Ghana.
The venue flip highlighted broader industry challenges around suitable large-scale venues, yet the show went on successfully.
As Black Sherif and peers celebrated into the night, the 27th TGMA reinforced Ghana’s vibrant music ecosystem and its global influence.
Fans and critics alike hailed the results as a fair reflection of streaming success, cultural impact, and hard work, with debates already swirling about next year’s contenders.
In an industry where longevity meets youthful innovation, the night proved that Ghanaian music continues to evolve while honoring its roots.
Black Sherif’s sweep, Medikal’s commercial punch and tributes to legends like Daddy Lumba captured the perfect blend of past, present, and future.
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