AratheJay Management Questions TGMA Nomination Exclusions
The management team of Ghanaian artiste AratheJay has formally petitioned the Board and Academy of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA), seeking clarification over the omission of three of the artiste’s submissions from the 27th edition nominations list.
In a letter addressed to Charterhouse Ghana, organisers of the awards scheme, the team raised concerns about what it described as inconsistencies between the published eligibility criteria and the exclusion of selected works from AratheJay’s debut album, “The Odyssey”. The nominations were officially unveiled on March 14, 2026.
According to the petition, three entries were not included despite being duly submitted. These are “The Odyssey” for Album/EP of the Year, “Put Am on God” for Best Rap Performance, and “Cover Me” for Best Male Vocal Performance. The management stated that all entries met the required guidelines and were supported by strong streaming performance across major digital platforms.
Released in 2025, “The Odyssey” reportedly achieved notable commercial success, consistently ranking in the Top 5 on Apple Music Ghana and securing a position among Spotify Ghana’s Top 10 most streamed albums of the year. The team argued that these achievements reflect the album’s impact and align with the TGMA’s stated standards of excellence.
Despite the concerns, AratheJay received three nominations in other categories, including Best Music Video for “Put Am on God,” Best Reggae/Dancehall Song for “Talisman” featuring Stonebwoy, and Best Hiplife Song as a featured artist on “Tontonte” by Ko-Jo Cue.
In its statement, the management emphasised that the petition is not intended as a challenge to the awards scheme but as a call for transparency. “We are simply asking the Board to explain how both sets of information were reconciled in arriving at the nominations list,” the statement read. The team added that clarity in the process would strengthen confidence in the industry.
The management concluded by reaffirming respect for the TGMA and urging the Board to provide a formal response addressing the concerns raised.
