The Vodafone Ghana Music Awards is the Biggest, most anticipated, most patronised and most significant Entertainment event on the Ghanaian music calendar.

But controversies surrounding the annual award event have always been the talk of town since industry players and Ghanaian music lovers share their views on changes or additions made by the organisers of the VGMA.

With reference to last year’s (2016) VGMA categories, the award scheme had thirty (30) slots but in this 2017 entry, three categories were scrapped making twenty-seven (27) in all.

It is uncertain why Charter House dropped the three (3) categories but dwelling on previous complains and comments from a section of the public, claimed that once Peace songs are released every four years during election year it’s unfair to add that category.

Others shared their opinions on the Music for Development Award as a category which will only see artiste(s) do songs to win the awards and are unable to sustain their projects. Critics have also described the African Artiste of the year category as needless since other dropped categories to awards Ghanaians can replace the African Artiste of the year category to honour and appreciate Ghanaian musicians and other music industry who have released work(s) that have generated the most public excitement within the calendar year of the scheme.

Last year the Gospel Album of the Year category was suspended because according to organisers of the awards event, the gospel albums submitted were not enough and those that were submitted did not have the minimum requirements of three hit songs, Lifetime Achievement Award and MUSIGA Merit Award were also merged.

Below are the categories scrapped


  1. African Artiste of the Year – Wizkid

  2. Peace Song Winner – New Generation Gospel Ministers

  3. Music for Development Award – Gasmilla

The 18th edition of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards which is powered by Charterhouse Productions and sponsored by Vodafone Ghana is organized in partnership with the Musicians the Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) and under the auspices of and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards scheme, which is now in its 18th year, has grown into a Festival of Music and Entertainment that engages the entire country and beyond.

VGMA  2017 Categories


  1. Artiste(s) of the Year

  2. Hiplife/Hip Hop Artiste(s) of the Year

  3. Highlife Artiste(s) of the Year

  4. Gospel Artiste(s) of the Year

  5. New Artiste of the Year

  6. Best Collaboration of the year

  7. African Artiste(s) of the Year

  8. Hiplife Song of the Year

  9. Reggae/Dancehall Artiste(s) of the Year

  10. Highlife song of the Year

  11. Most Popular Song of the Year

  12. Afro-Pop Song of the Year

  13. Hip Hop Song of the Year

  14. Gospel Song of the year

  15. Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year

  16. Best Group of the Year

INDUSTRY VOTING AWARDS CATEGORIES

  1. Album of the Year

  2. Best Male Vocal Artiste of the Year

  3. Best Female Vocal Artist of the Year

  4. Music Video of the Year

  5. Best Rapper of the Year

  6. Songwriter of the Year

  7. Sound Engineer of the Year

  8. Traditional Artiste(s) of the Year

  9. Record of the Year

  10. Instrumentalist of the Year

  11. Lifetime Achievement Award
Below is the list of 2016 Nominees and winners for the popular music categories

  1. Artiste of the Year – E.L

  2. Afro-pop Song of the Year – Minaa Bo Po by E.L

  3. Hiplife/Hip Hop Artiste of the Year – E.L

  4. Producer of the Year – E. L

  5. Music video of the Year – Shelele by E.L

  6. Hip Hop Song of the Year – Sarkodie (Hand to Mouth)

  7. Rapper of the Year – Sarkodie

  8. Record of the Year – Sarkodie ft. Pat Thomas – Bra

  9. Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year – Stonebwoy

  10. Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year – Go Higher by Stonebwoy

  11. Highlife Artiste of the Year – Bisa Kdei

  12. Highlife Song of the Year – Mansa by Bisa Kdei

  13. Most Popular Song of the Year – Mansa by Bisa Kdei

  14. Album of the Year – Bisa Kdei

  15. Best Group of the Year – VVIP

  16. Collaboration of the Year – VVIP ft Sena Dagadu

  17. Song Writer of the Year – Kofi Kinaata

  18. Best New Artiste of the Year – Kofi Kinaata

  19. Gospel Song of the Year – Nicholas Omane Acheampong (Aposor)

  20. Hiplife Song of the Year – Yewo Krom by Atom

  21. Gospel Artiste of the Year – SP Kofi Sarpong

  22. Best Female Vocalist of the Year – MzVee

  23. Best Male Vocalist of the Year – Pat Thomas

  24. African Artiste of the Year – Wizkid

  25. Peace Song Winner – New Generation Gospel Ministers

  26. Traditional Artiste of the Year – Tesa Music Group

  27. Lifetime Achievement Award – AB Crentsil

  28. Sound Engineer of the Year – Kaywa

  29. Music for Development Award – Gasmilla

  30. Instrumentalist of the Year – Justice Williams (Shikome)

Source: Kasapafmonline