Stonebwoy, Irene and Jane, Shatta Wale
The Ghana Music Awards, now known as the Telecel Ghana Music Awards, is one of the country’s biggest and longest-running award schemes.
With such a reputation, it has experienced its fair share of controversies involving artistes, audiences, the media, and other stakeholders.
From boos to walk-outs to stage invasions, here are some of the most controversial moments in the history of the Ghana Music Awards.
1. Dumsor in the hall (2006)
The 2006 Ghana Music Awards started like any other night, performances scheduled, award plaques ready, and the venue prepped. However, midway through the night, during Becca’s performance, the lights went out, knocking out all the microphones and power sources on stage.
Later, CharterHouse explained that the power cut was caused by a problem with the generators. Although CharterHouse had invested heavily in generators to avoid relying on the Electricity Company of Ghana, the generators failed, causing a 20-minute blackout at the National Theatre.
As technicians scrambled to fix the issue, an infuriated audience demanded a refund of their tickets. Eventually, the lights came back on, and the ever-talented Samini lifted spirits with an electrifying performance.
2. Boos from the Audience (2008)
Controversy erupted at the 2008 Ghana Music Awards when the winner of the Best Female Vocal Performance award was announced. The category was hotly contested, with top female artists like Cee, Ohemaa Mercy, Becca, Diana Hamilton Antwi, and music duo Irene and Jane.
Ohemaa Mercy and Becca were considered the frontrunners, but the award went to Irene and Jane, a duo who had previously won the CharterHouse-organized reality TV show, “Stars of the Future,” and were being produced and managed by the same outfit. Their win, unexpected by many, infuriated the audience.
As the duo climbed the stage, loud boos echoed from the crowd, making this one of the most embarrassing moments in GMA history.
3. Shatta Wale (2013 & 2016)
The 2013 (then Vodafone) Ghana Music Awards went smoothly until the winner for ‘Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year’ was announced. The category, which included Blakk Rasta, Samini, Kaakie, Eazzy, Jupiter, and Shatta Wale (then known as Bandana), saw Kaakie win for her song “Toffee Pon Tongue.”
Shatta Wale was furious and stormed out of the venue, later recording videos in which he insulted both CharterHouse and Kaakie, even releasing a song where he claimed he didn’t need any awards.
After a lawsuit and public apology, the issue was resolved. However, tensions resurfaced in 2016, leading to a ban on Shatta Wale, which was eventually lifted.
4. Shatta Wale vs Stonebwoy (2019)
The 20th edition of the Ghana Music Awards (Vodafone) was marred by a violent altercation. When Stonebwoy was announced as the winner of Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year, Shatta Wale and his entourage rushed the stage, leading to a confrontation between the two artistes’ teams.
In the chaos, Stonebwoy was seen brandishing a gun, causing many guests to flee the venue. As a result, CharterHouse stripped both artists of their titles and issued an indefinite ban from the awards. The Artiste of the Year award was not announced that year.
While the ban was later lifted, Shatta Wale has yet to return to the awards scheme
ID/EB
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