Joe Mettle Takes Temporary Break from 2026 TGMAs
Renowned gospel musician Joe Mettle has announced that he will not participate in the 2026 edition of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA), describing the decision as a temporary pause rather than a permanent withdrawal from the scheme.
The multiple award-winning artiste made the announcement during an interview, where he clarified that his absence from the awards this year is due to scheduling constraints.
“I won’t be available on the date scheduled for the 2026 awards, so I will be taking a break from the event this year,” Joe Mettle explained. He was quick to allay concerns about a long-term exit, adding, “This is only for this edition. It doesn’t mean I am stepping away from TGMA permanently.”
As part of the decision, the gospel star disclosed that he will neither submit his music for nomination nor take part in any activities associated with the awards ceremony this year. According to him, the organisers of the awards, Charterhouse, have been duly informed of his decision and have acknowledged it.
“Yes, I have officially communicated my position to Charterhouse, and they understand and respect the decision,” he said.
Reflecting on his journey with the awards scheme, Joe Mettle recalled his historic win in 2017, when he became the first gospel musician to be crowned Artiste of the Year at the then Vodafone Ghana Music Awards. He beat stiff competition from top secular acts including Sarkodie, EL, Medikal, Stonebwoy and MzVee.
“That win was not just for me,” he noted. “It was a victory for the entire gospel music family in Ghana, proving that our voices and our work matter on the national stage.”
He further highlighted the growing recognition of gospel music within the awards space, pointing to gospel artiste Diana Hamilton’s Artiste of the Year win in 2021 as further evidence of the genre’s rising influence.
Joe Mettle indicated that his temporary break from the TGMA is to allow him to concentrate on other creative and personal projects. He assured fans and industry stakeholders that his absence this year should not be misconstrued as disinterest in the awards.
“I’ll be back for future editions,” he said, “and I believe the best is still ahead.”
The Telecel Ghana Music Awards is Ghana’s biggest music honours scheme, celebrating excellence across various genres in the industry.
