Update: Click Here For The REAL Winners
All the winners of this year’s edition of the Ghana Music Awards would be announced today April 14.
Like we have always done over the years, GhanaCelebrities.Com reviews, do analysis of each nominated songs plus categories before the awards are announced. Also we pick our winners for each category.
Mind you, whatever we say is our opinion; it’s not necessarily the views of the organizers; Charter House and sponsors Vodafone.
When the nominees for this year’s awards were unveiled, the hullabaloo that surrounded the nominations was enough to confirm that, the controversies which has been part of the awards since its inception thirteen years ago is far from ending.
Many people thought the fact that Vodafone has taken over from MTN as major sponsors will mean, effecting the needed changes to minimize the ‘needless’ controversies. The various Committees of the previous awards were also changed to Board and Academy.
I must say that, the controversies can’t be controlled when songs get disqualified because the awards’ Board and Academy consider the lyrics in such songs as offensive, violent and sexually explicit whiles other songs get the pass mark for whatever reasons.
The year under review was the year that, the word ‘azonto’ was made popular and introduced into the music industry. The word has already been there but in the year under review, it was given a star status as it was on the lips of every soul in Ghana.
Now let’s get to the predictions. History would be made today at the Dome of the Accra International Conference Centre, venue for the prestigious Ghana Music Awards which is in its 13th edition.
Before Hip Life trio, VIP made history last year by winning the coveted ‘Artiste of the Year’; many had said that, no artiste can win it twice.
Methinks VIP’s triumph would be short-lived as three previous winners look set to equal their win.
Before I get started with my predictions, here is a recap of the Industry Awards winners. Okyeame Kwame’s ‘Faithful’ was the biggest winner on the night. He won the ‘Songwriter of the Year’ and the ‘Producer of the Year’ which went to Appietus for producing the beat. Kwame also won the ‘Music For Development’ with his Hepatits B campaign.
Male and Female Vocal Artiste went to Kesse for ‘Oh Yes’ and Efya for featuring on Sarkodie’s ‘I’m In Love With You’. ‘Fefeefe’ by Gifty Osei picked the Gospel Album of the Year.
Kaywa picked the ‘Sound Engineer of the Year’ whiles, Guy One, Pat Thomas and Diana Hopeson picked the ‘Traditional Artiste of the Year’, ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ and ‘MUSIGA Merit Award’ respectively.
Now let’s get to serious business.
Artiste(s) of the Year
Becca
Okyeame Kwame
SARKODIE***
Efya
R2Bees
4×4
Kwaw Kesse
I think this year’s Artiste of the Year category is not strong enough. Whereas ‘not strong enough’ means that, though the names there are big artistes in Ghana, only two artistes in there did enough in the year under review to deserve to be in there; Sarkodie, 4×4 to a large extent Efya.
R2Bees are there just to make the numbers after all their biggest hit ‘Ajiee’ was disqualified. SARKODIE should be rest assured that he’s going to equal VIP’s record.
Should the unthinkable happens, I don’t see the award eluding 4×4. Efya is a third favourite.
Hiplife/HipHop Artiste(s) of the Year
Stay Jay
Okyeame Kwame
4×4
SARKODIE***
D-Cryme
Kwaw Kese
R2Bees
To win this particular category, you must have lots of hit tunes and made lots of appearances and rocked. It looks like a tight category with Stay Jay, 4×4 and Sarkodie as my favourite for this one. But I have the feeling SARKODIE will pick this one too.
Highlife Artiste(s) of the Year
Daddy Lumba
K.K. Fosu
Kwabena Kwabena
Kwasie Pee
George Darko***
Lucky Mensah
‘Nkratuo’ Lucky Mensah was the biggest highlife tune in the year under review. However, he didn’t really get shows to play. If he did, then probably it happened on another planet. I don’t even think he will come close to winning this one. This category is between Daddy Lumba and GEORGE DARKO. Though I’m rooting for the former, I think the latter will nick it. If Kwabena Kwabena wins, it won’t be news.
Gospel Artiste(s) of the Year
DSP Kofi Sarpong
Gifty Osei***
Philipa Baafi
Lady Prempeh
Bernice Ansah
Selina Boateng
There must be something special about you to win that category. In my opinion GIFTY OSEI will pick this one too to add up to the ‘Gospel Album of the Year’ she won at the Industry Awards. If not Selina Boateng or DSP Kofi Sarpong will scoop it.
Best New Artiste(s) of the Year 
Atumpan
Racquel
Stay Jay
D-Cryme ***
EL
Zigi
This one also looks like a tight one. All the nominees have done enough to merit their nominations. I think Stay Jay has had a great year – without any doubt but DCryme appears favourite for this one. If he wins, it means the ladies voted more for him. I won’t be surprised if EL or Atumpan wins it but DCRYME remains my favourite.
Best Collaboration Of The Year
Trigmatic/Raquel – Aageii
Fuse ODG / Tiffany – Azonto
Raquel/Sarkodie – Sweetieo
Eduwordzi/Stay Jay – Yenko Nkoa
OKYEAME KWAME/BERTHA – FAITHFUL
Sarkodie/ EL – You Go Kill Me
Sarkodie/Efya – I’m In Love With You
Wow! I think this is one of the tightest categories. Sarkodie/ EL – You Go Kill Me opened the floodgate for the ‘azonto’ craze making it a strong contender.
Eduwordzi/Stay Jay – Yenko Nkoa was an instant hit and the controversy about who owns that track helped its promotion and boosted its popularity. Fuse ODG / Tiffany – Azonto was a big hit. But I will stick my head out for OKYEAME KWAME/BERTHA – FAITHFUL – such a beautiful song.
African Artiste(S) Of The Year (Non Ghanaian)
Naeto C
Duncan Mighty
Ice Prince
D’banj
Cabo Snoop ***
Wizkid
This is a non Ghanaian category; it doesn’t really matter to me. It’s Angola versus Nigeria. Cabo Snoop and Ice Prince have been confirmed as performers on the night, so I think one of them will pick it. I’m a Naeto C fan but we are tired of Nigerians almost all the time winning it. I will go for the Windeck crooner, CABO SNOOP.
Hiplife Song of the Year
Stay Jay Shashee – Wowo
EDUWORDZI – YENKO NKOA***
4×4 – Yesi Yesii
Keche Sorkode
Sarkodie – U go kill Me
Okyeame Kwame – Faithful
Buk Bak – Kolom
D-Cryme – Kill Me Shy
Another tight category. Whoever wins this category must be proud and celebrate the triumph. Questions are still being asked about why EDUWORDZI – YENKO NKOA didn’t make the Most Popular Song of the Year category. Still shocking for many people. If not, Buk Bak – Kolom or Sarkodie – U Go Kill Me will pick this one.
Highlife Song of the Year

GEORGE DARKO – LUCKY STAR ***
Lucky Mensah – Nkratuor
Kwabena Maphia – I Go Pay
Daddy Lumba – Ko Hye Po
Kwabena Kwabena – Be Gye Me
K. K Fosu –Akoma
I will go for GEORGE DARKO – LUCKY STAR for this category. Even though ‘Nkratuor’ by Lucky Mensah was the most popular highlife song in this category in 2011, many consider it as a political song. It’s a song that had the whole of Ghana talking but I will stick with my choice.
Most Popular Song of the Year
4×4 – Yesi Yesii
Stay Jay – Shashee Wowo
Selina Boateng – Me Nku Me Ho
D-Cryme – Kill Me Shy
SARKODIE – U GO KILL ME ***
Zigi – You Say Wetin
Atumpan – The Thing
Okyeame Kwame – Faithful
Not a strong category if you ask me but the competition is between SARKODIE – U GO KILL ME and 4×4 – Yesi Yesii. I don’t see the award eluding any of them. Sarkodie must add this award to his collections.
Afro-Pop Song Of The Year
Ruff N Smooth – Beautiful
Becca  – African Woman
FUSE ODG  – AZONTO***
Zigi – U Say Wey Tin
Atumpan – The Thing
Raquel  – Sweetieo
Chase  – Tell Me Your Name
The description of this category doesn’t work for me. The argument will continue unabated. Some of the songs here just didn’t make the mark so it’s amazing why they are nominated.
What is Afro-Pop about Chase’s ‘Tell Me Your Name’? I love the song but I think it doesn’t have any business in this category. I will go for FUSE ODG – AZONTO. But it looks like Becca – African Woman or Atumpan – The Thing.
Hip Hop Song Of The Year
Bra Kevin – Three Headed Beast
DBLACK – MY KIND OF GIRL ***
Sarkodie – I’m In Love With You
Edem – Too Much
Guru – Mmaakuo
Kwaw Kese – Poppin
I don’t see anything Hip Hop about Sarkodie’s ‘I’m In Love With You’. The fight is between DBLACK – MY KIND OF GIRL and Bra Kevin – Three Headed Beast. Edem’s ‘Too Much’ is not as popular as ‘Over Again’. I will stick with DBlack for this one.
Gospel Song Of The Year
Lady Prempeh  – Nsantaban
GIFTY OSEI – FEFEEFE ***
Philipa Baafi – Dea Eba Wosem Afe Yi
Selina Boateng – Me Nku Me Ho
Jake Alolome – Tomorrow By This Time
DSP Kofi Sarpong – African Borborbo
Bernice Ansah – Final Say
There is no justification for my little knowledge in gospel. I can say in terms of popularity, GIFTY OSEI – FEFEEFE is the favourite to win this one. Jake Alolome’s ‘Tomorrow By This Time’ was a strong contender for the category until he messed up by coming out publicly to say his fellow gospel artiste Herty Bongreat didn’t deserve to win the ‘Discovery of the Year’ at last year’s awards. This is not to write off other nominated songs but in terms of popularity, Gifty Osei would scoop this award home.
Reggae Song of the Year 
Blakk Rasta – Miss Right
Sonni balli – All They See
EDEM – GHETTO ARISE***
Kesse – Oh Yes
Stonebwoy – Climax
Jupiter/Trigmatic – Uptown Downtown
Not many Ghanaians like reggae music. So this one would be won based on how popular the tune is. EDEM – GHETTO ARISE and Kesse – Oh Yes are the favourites. Blakk Rasta – Miss Right is a threat here but Edem will nick this one.
Group of the Year
R2Bees
Buk Bak
Keche
Ruff ‘N’ Smooth
4X4***
Aside VIP who is not in this award, these are the hottest Hiplife groups we have currently in Ghana. Something tells me 4X4 will pick this one. Buk Bak will be plotting against them.
Album of the Year
SARKODIE – RAPPERHOLIC ***
Kwaw Kese – Untold Stories
4×4 – Waist And Power
Stay Jay – Repetition
Trigmatic – Solutions
Selina Boateng – Menko Me Ho
Of all the albums in this category, SARKODIE – RAPPERHOLIC has many hit songs which have generated the most excitement during the year under review. I don’t see this award eluding him.
Best Music Video Of The Year

BECCA – AFRICAN WOMAN – DAVIS MEDIA GROUP ***
4×4 – Yesi Yesii – Phamous People
DBlack – My Kind Of Girl – Jonathan Olamide & Desmond Blackmore
Mensah – No One Knows – Sam A Kessie
Bra Kevin – 3 Headed Beast – Nana Asihene
Sheriffa Gunu – Mrantie – Phamous Films Production
Okyeame Kwame – Faithful – Ohene Media
Though I’m not a music video director, I have an eye for quality and know when a video is whack. I think BECCA – AFRICAN WOMAN – DAVIS MEDIA GROUP will be favourite to pick this one. 4×4 – Yesi Yesii – Phamous People and Okyeame Kwame – Faithful – Ohene Media for can win too.
Best Rapper of the year
Manifest – Ghana Must Go
SARKODIE – U GO KILL ME***
Okyeame Kwame – Faithful
Edem – Legacy
Trigmatic – Light and Darkness
EL – Obuu Mo
This category is made up of talkers and rappers. I think Sarkodie, Okyeame Kwame and Edem will be the favourite for this one. If I’m given a second chance, I will give it to SARKODIE. If the Board and the Academy decides to give it to anyone who has not won it again then Okyeame Kwame will scoop it.
Record Of The Year
Okyeame Kwame – Faithful
Jayso/Adina – Music
Mensah – Fante Love Song
Trigmatic/Irene – Light and Darkness
Sarkodie – I’m In Love With You
Kwame Adinkra – Akua Dansoa
Yaa Pono – Good Morning
Per the description of this category which say ‘The Record of the Year is adjudged by the Academy and Board as the most outstanding original song that was released during the year under review. It may not have enjoyed huge success, but has quality artistic value.’
I don’t see any reason why Okyeame Kwame – ‘Faithful’ and Sarkodie – ‘I’m In Love With You’ should not be in this category because they were and still enjoying huge success. They are still favourites though but I will stick my head out for TRIGMATIC/IRENE – LIGHT AND DARKNESS or Mensah – Fante Love Song.
So in my opinion this will be the outcome today. You can disagree all you want but that won’t change any anything.. I’m hopeful to come out with 90%.
Follow us on twitter via @GhanaCelebrity for live updates, tweets and pictures. Tweet back with #GhanaCelebrity or #GC.
Update: Click Here For The REAL Winners