George Quaye proposes honorary TGMA category to honour artistes like Shatta Wale
Team Lead for ImageBureau and former Public Relations Officer of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA), George Quaye, has called on Charterhouse, organisers of the awards scheme, to consider introducing a special non-competitive category to honour artistes of Shatta Wale’s stature.
Mr Quaye made the appeal when a delegation from Shatta Wale’s management paid a courtesy call on Charterhouse following the successful staging of ShattaFest 2025, which took place at Independence Square in Accra on Saturday, 18 October 2025.
The event, produced by Charterhouse Ghana Limited, attracted an unprecedented crowd as thousands of fans thronged the venue to celebrate the dancehall star.
During the meeting, Shatta Wale and his team expressed their appreciation to Charterhouse for delivering a world-class production.
In his remarks, Mr Quaye argued that placing artistes of Shatta Wale’s level in competitive categories may not be ideal.
“Imagine Shatta Wale competing with an up-and-coming artiste who has done well in the year under review and ends up winning because of how the dynamics of the voting system work. It may not be fair or comfortable,” he said.
Mr Quaye proposed the creation of a non-competitive honorary category, possibly accompanied by a mini documentary or other forms of recognition, to celebrate exceptional contributions by top-tier artistes.
He likened the proposed category to the Lifetime Achievement Award of the TGMAs, which honours veteran musicians for their long-term impact on the industry.
According to Mr Quaye, such a move would not only celebrate distinguished artistes but also enhance the credibility of the awards scheme.
“When it comes to competitive categories, various dynamics come into play, including fan-base voting, Board decisions, and Academy inputs. These differences often lead to controversies. A non-competitive category could help address that,” he noted.
Responding to the suggestion, Theresah Ayoade, Chief Executive Officer of Charterhouse, said the proposal would be forwarded to the TGMA Board for consideration.
“It’s a suggestion, and we can only take it to the Board for discussion. But one thing I know is that the Telecel Ghana Music Awards is an evolving scheme. For 26 years, what it looked like when it started is not what it looks like now,” she stated.
Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy were banned indefinitely from the awards in 2019 following their onstage altercation but were later reinstated in January 2021.
Although Shatta Wale has since expressed reluctance to participate in the scheme, he has indicated a willingness to collaborate with the TGMA through his Shaxi ride-hailing business.
