One nomination in this year’s Vodafone Ghana Music Award VGMA nomination list, which has come under huge hubbub, is the ‘New Artiste of the Year.’
The nominees for the aforementioned category are: Akwaboah, Joey B, and Kumi Guitar. Some critics posit that Akwaboah first released his song titled ‘I Do Love You’ in the year 2012 which defeats VGMA’s year of review for the award – 1st Jan, – 31st Dec, 2014.
Indeed, critics who are calling for the disqualification of Akwaboah are doing so based on an article his manager, Flexy, once wrote; where in the article, Akwaboah’s manager reveal that his artiste first released in 2012.
On Joey B, some critics argue out that he first released ‘Strawberry Ginger’ in 2012 as well as featured on songs with D-Black in 2012.
Finally on Kumi Guitar, he’s also confirmed to have composed and sung a song unto a compilation album produced by sound engineer Sugar Tone. The album, according to its marketer, Pat Thomas Productions, was released in 2011.
The musicians union of Ghana MUSIGA, gave out a car to the winner of VGMA’s 2013 ‘Artiste of the Year’ – R2Bees, because, they promised so. This year, MUSIGA came public to announce that this time round, they are no longer going to give the car to the winner of ‘Artiste of the Year’ but to the winner of ‘New Artiste of the Year.’
Speaking to the PRO of Charterhouse (organizers of the award scheme), Mr. George Nii Armah Quaye, some weeks back, he told GhanaCelebrities.Com that the VGMA Board is going to review the nomination list based on the additional information they have received as evidence of prove that some nominees allegedly, don’t qualify for nomination; talkless of winning award(s).
Mr. Quaye went further to explain that if after their review (the board) they realize that a nominee or all the nominees in the ‘New Artiste of the Year’ don’t qualify, the board shall disqualify the fellow or them. “That I can assure you!” Mr. Quaye said vehemently.
GhanaCelebrities.Com therefore called in on the office of MUSIGA and asked the President, Bice Obour Osei Kuffour, if they will still give the car out to the winner of the ‘New Artiste of the Year’ in the face of all the controversies and tilts surrounding it; with some critics like Socrate Sarfo calling on MUSIGA not to give the car out.
“First, MUSIGA is part of the board. The organizers have their criteria definition for every nomination so if any person is of the opinion that some songs or artistes do not qualify to be in a category, the fellow can send his/her evidence to the board. For now, MUSIGA has not had any consultations to revoke the promise we made to the organizers of the award simply because there are controversies over that category.”
GhanaCelebrities.Com asked Obour if MUSIGA will rather give the car to the winner of this year’s ‘Artiste of the Year’ – as they did last year, should Charterhouse finally come out to tell the public that after their review, they feel all the nominees for the ‘New Artiste of the Year’ don’t qualify, he responded, “I don’t think or believe Charterhouse will do so. Let’s get there first and we will know what to do.”
In the meantime, GhanaCelebrities.Com gathers the VGMA board has had about 3 different seating and has called the managers and artistes whose nominations are under ‘fire’ for interrogations.
GhanaCelebrities.Com is still nosing around the camp of Charterhouse for any information for your first hand attention. Until then…MOTWUM!!