In recent times, the release of nominations for the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) have stirred a lot of controversy, and the latest selections was not spared the usual discussions about its fairness or otherwise.
For the past 16 years, artistes have complained about percieved bias in the nominations, and at the official release of the 2016 VGMA nominations last Friday at the Kempinski Gold Coast City Hotel, some artistes spoke to Showbiz about their displeasure and satisfaction with the awards.
Pappy Kojo had nominations in four categories -- Hip Hop Song of the Year, Best Rapper, Best Collaboration and Hiplife/Hip Hop Artiste of the Year but still wanted more.
The musician said he should have been added to the Artiste of the year and Afro Pop song of the Year categories.
“I am grateful I had four nominations in this year’s VGMA but I think I deserve to be in the Artiste of the Year and also Afro Pop Song of the Year categories because I worked hard under the year of review.
“No one can dispute the fact that my song did well and I performed on all the major platforms” he added.
Kofi Kinaata, who also had three nominations in the categories of Highlife Song of the Year, Vodafone Song of the Year and Song Writer of the Year said he should have been in the Record of the Year category too.
“I would have won that award if I was part of the nominees. I really deserve to have been in that category but all the same I am grateful I had three nominations,” he said.
Gospel artiste, Kofi Gyan, believes the VGMA Board was not fair to the gospel artistes because they only had two slots out of over 20 categories. He maintains his song ‘Soboyo Sotoyo’ deserves nomination in the Most Popular Song of the Year class.
“I am disappointed in the VGMA Board for giving us just two slots. We deserve better than that,” he said.
Hiplife artiste Wisa Gried says he is okay with the four nominations he had. He submitted Ekikiime in four categories and they were all nominated.
Policeman and musician Kofi Sarpong says he is very satisfied with all the nomination he had. “To be in the Artiste of the Year, Gospel Song of the Year, Album of the Year and Gospel Artiste of the Year category is just okay with me,” he told Showbiz.
EL came out tops garnering 10 nods, including Producer of The Year from the VMGA Board. Sarkodie got seven nominations for his own works and three others for featuring on other songs, Mzvee also got seven nominations, while VVIP also grabbed six nominations.
Stonebwoy got five nominations for his own works and an extra nod for his collaboration with Jupitar. While Bisa got six nominations for himself including Producer Of the Year, as well as two nominations for featuring on other records.
Kofi Kinata got four nominations for himself and two others for featuring on Donzy’s ‘Crusade’. Pappykojo also had four nominations and one other for featuring on EL’s ‘All Black’.
