The biggest night in music has come and gone, sparking lively debates about who truly earned their accolades, who fell short, and who might have deserved more.
However, the main event itself sparked plenty of conversations, from a glittering red carpet to impressive stage props.
Let’s take a look at the 2025 Telecel Ghana Music Awards and whether, after 25 years of experience, CharterHouse proved it had learnt from past missteps.
The Red Carpet: Less Chaos, More Class
One would recall that the 2024 red carpet faced backlash for being overcrowded, flooded with ‘content creators’ rather than genuine personalities.
This year, CharterHouse took control, and entry was strictly by invitation.
The result? A more refined affair, with celebrities dominating the scene instead of random attendees.
Still, a few bizarre moments slipped through (as you would see on social media), but they were kept to a minimum.
That said, media houses struggled for space, with about 80% of the carpet monopolized by the official media partner. A minor hiccup in an otherwise improved setup.
The Main Show: Smooth, Stylish, and Star-Studded
Scheduled for 9 PM, the show kicked off at 10 PM (typical Ghanaian timing), but no one seemed to mind.
Ayisi breathed fresh air into the room with his biggest hits before the hosts took over. The dual-stage setup was a masterstroke.
Naa Ashorkor commanded the main stage, introducing presenters, while Foster Romanus and AJ Sarpong held court on a secondary stage, delivering jokes, quick reviews, and social media reactions.
Yaw Darling finally claimed his ‘Unsung Artiste of the Year’ award after a heartfelt performance.
The ‘Male and Female Vocalist of the Year’ awards were quickly handed out, and King Paluta sent the crowd into a frenzy by snagging the Highlife Song of the Year award. Then, the night truly came alive.
Daughters of Glorious Jesus took the audience to church, delivering a powerful performance, highlighted by a jaw-dropping drum solo that left everyone in awe.
A Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to the legendary Yaw Sarpong, followed by a moving tribute from his longtime friend, Maame Tiwaa, which had the emotional crowd on their feet.
The Battle of the Kings
Tension was palpable in the audience as King Paluta, Stonebwoy, and King Promise traded wins, each cheekily declaring, “I’ll be back,” after collecting their trophies.
Team Eternity, despite pulling out of the awards for undisclosed reasons, walked away with Group of the Year and the newly introduced Urban Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year.
Stonebwoy, winner of Best Music Video, Reggae/Dancehall Artiste, and Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year awards, delivered a jaw-dropping performance, complete with dazzling costumes, electrifying choreography, and a stage presence that reminded everyone why he’s a global force.
King Promise kept the energy high, belting out his biggest hits while the audience sang along word-for-word.
Other standout performances came from DJ Vyrusky, Kojo Manuel, Mophty, and Kojo Black, ensuring no one stayed seated.
KiDi and Fameye brought fire with their slick dance moves and magnetic stage presence, while Kweku Smoke closed the performances with a show-stopping set.
Ayisi, the lyrical genius, finally bagged his first Ghana Music Award with ‘Record of the Year’, a well-deserved win.
The Big Moment
As the night reached its climax, the exhausted but exhilarated audience waited for the biggest announcement: the winner of the fierce battle between Stonebwoy, King Promise, and King Paluta.
And the crown went to… King Promise.
Final Verdict: A Marked Improvement
Overall, the awards were well-organized, no major technical glitches, no unnecessary delays. The only snag? Some performances took a while to set up.
The lingering issue of overzealous entourages storming the stage with their artistes remained, but compared to previous years, CharterHouse showed clear progress.
Was it perfect? No. But was it a step in the right direction? Absolutely.
ID/EB
Check out some videos from the night:
