By Daniel Bampoe
The 26th edition of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA), held at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre on Saturday, May 10, marked a transformative chapter in Ghana’s music and entertainment landscape, celebrating both musical excellence and a more refined cultural showcase.
Leading the night was Gregory Bortey Newman, popularly known as King Promise, who clinched the coveted Artiste of the Year award.
King Promise’s rise to the top did not come as a surprise to many in the industry.
The “Terminator” hitmaker, who has steadily grown in global influence with his unique blend of Afrobeats and highlife, walked away with four awards: Artiste of the Year, Best Afropop Song (Paris), Best Afropop/Afrobeats Artiste, and Album/EP of the Year.
These wins cement his dominance in the contemporary Afrobeats scene and reflect the commercial and critical success of his recent projects.
Another major highlight of the night was King Paluta, who won Most Popular Song of the Year with Aseda, a track that has become a nationwide anthem.
The rapper also picked up the Best Highlife Song of the Year for Makoma, reflecting his versatility and growing impact on Ghana’s musical identity.
The awards night, organized by Charterhouse and sponsored by Telecel Ghana, saw fierce competition among Ghana’s top musical talents including Stonebwoy, Black Sherif, Joe Mettle, and Kweku Smoke.
Stonebwoy, a longtime fan favorite, took home awards for Best Reggae/Dancehall Artiste, Best Reggae/Dancehall Song (Jerejere), and Best Video of the Year.
Joe Mettle continued his reign in the gospel scene with wins for Best Gospel Artiste and Best Male Vocalist.
The TGMA26 also acknowledged Yaw Sarpong and the Asomafo Band with a Lifetime Achievement Award, honouring over four decades of pioneering work in Ghanaian gospel music.
Newcomers were not left out. Yaw Darling emerged as the Unsung Artiste of the Year, while Beeztrap KOTM won Best New Artiste, pointing to a new wave of talent ready to shape the future of Ghanaian music.
Meanwhile, Team Eternity Ghana, a gospel collective, not only won Best Urban/Contemporary Gospel Song but also bagged Group of the Year, signaling a resurgence of gospel music in mainstream charts.
This year’s event also ushered in notable reforms.
The TGMA Red Carpet underwent a noticeable transformation, with organizers introducing an “invitation-only” policy for appearances.
This decision appeared to elevate the event’s fashion standard, curating a red carpet experience that was more refined and culturally resonant.
Gone were the over-the-top and controversial outfits of previous years. Instead, guests including, Fameye, Okyeame Kwame, and Roselyn Felli showcased elegant, Afrocentric fashion that blended glamour with heritage.
The evening was punctuated by stunning performances from Ayisi, King Paluta, Stonebwoy, Empress Gifty, and King Promise himself, giving audiences unforgettable live renditions of their chart-topping hits.
In addition, fans were treated to a collaborative performance from Daughters of Glorious Jesus, underscoring TGMA’s commitment to bridging generational gaps in Ghanaian music.
Below is a summary of major winners:
Artiste of the Year: King Promise
Most Popular Song: Aseda – King Paluta
Best Album/EP: King Promise
Best Gospel Artiste: Joe Mettle
Best Hiplife/Hiphop Artiste: Kweku Smoke
Best Reggae/Dancehall Artiste: Stonebwoy
Songwriter of the Year: Kofi Kinaata (Saman)
Best International Collaboration: Diana Hamilton ft. Mercy Chinwo (This is the Doing of the Lord)
Best African Song: Tshwala Bam – Burna Boy, TitoM, Yuppe
The TGMA26 not only reinforced Ghana’s musical prowess but also repositioned the awards as a cultural staple for excellence, unity, and innovation in the creative arts sector.
