The Vodafone Ghana Music Awards is the Biggest, most anticipated, most patronised and most significant Entertainment event on the Ghanaian music calendar.

But controversies surrounding the annual award event have always been the talk of town since industry players and Ghanaian music lovers share their views on changes or additions made by the organisers of the VGMA.

With reference to last year’s (2016) VGMA categories, the award scheme had thirty (30) slots but in this 2017 entry, three categories were scrapped making twenty-seven (27) in all.

It is uncertain why Charter House dropped the three (3) categories but dwelling on previous complains and comments from a section of the public, claimed that once Peace songs are released every four years during election year it’s unfair to add that category.

Others shared their opinions on the Music for Development Award as a category which will only see artiste(s) do songs to win the awards and are unable to sustain their projects. Critics have also described the African Artiste of the year category as needless since other dropped categories to awards Ghanaians can replace the African Artiste of the year category to honour and appreciate Ghanaian musicians and other music industry who have released work(s) that have generated the most public excitement within the calendar year of the scheme.

Last year the Gospel Album of the Year category was suspended because according to organisers of the awards event, the gospel albums submitted were not enough and those that were submitted did not have the minimum requirements of three hit songs, Lifetime Achievement Award and MUSIGA Merit Award were also merged.

Below are the categories scrapped

African Artiste of the Year – Wizkid

Peace Song Winner – New Generation Gospel Ministers

Music for Development Award – Gasmilla

The 18th edition of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards which is powered by

Charterhouse Productions and sponsored by Vodafone Ghana is organized in partnership with the Musicians the Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) and under the auspices of and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards scheme, which is now in its 18th year, has grown into a Festival of Music and Entertainment that engages the entire country and beyond.

VGMA 2017 Categories

Artiste(s) of the Year

Hiplife/Hip Hop Artiste(s) of the Year

Highlife Artiste(s) of the Year

Gospel Artiste(s) of the Year

New Artiste of the Year

Best Collaboration of the year

African Artiste(s) of the Year

Hiplife Song of the Year

Reggae/Dancehall Artiste(s) of the Year

Highlife song of the Year

Most Popular Song of the Year

Afro-Pop Song of the Year

Hip Hop Song of the Year

Gospel Song of the year

Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year

Best Group of the Year

INDUSTRY VOTING AWARDS CATEGORIES

Album of the Year

Best Male Vocal Artiste of the Year

Best Female Vocal Artist of the Year

Music Video of the Year

Best Rapper of the Year

Songwriter of the Year

Sound Engineer of the Year

Traditional Artiste(s) of the Year

Record of the Year

Instrumentalist of the Year

Lifetime Achievement Award

Below is the list of 2016 Nominees and winners for the popular music categories

Artiste of the Year – E.L

Afro-pop Song of the Year – Minaa Bo Po by E.L

Hiplife/Hip Hop Artiste of the Year – E.L

Producer of the Year – E. L

Music video of the Year – Shelele by E.L

Hip Hop Song of the Year – Sarkodie (Hand to Mouth)

Rapper of the Year – Sarkodie

Record of the Year – Sarkodie ft. Pat Thomas – Bra

Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year – Stonebwoy

Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year – Go Higher by Stonebwoy

Highlife Artiste of the Year – Bisa Kdei

Highlife Song of the Year – Mansa by Bisa Kdei

Most Popular Song of the Year – Mansa by Bisa Kdei

Album of the Year – Bisa Kdei

Best Group of the Year – VVIP

Collaboration of the Year – VVIP ft Sena Dagadu

Song Writer of the Year – Kofi Kinaata

Best New Artiste of the Year – Kofi Kinaata

Gospel Song of the Year – Nicholas Omane Acheampong (Aposor)

Hiplife Song of the Year – Yewo Krom by Atom

Gospel Artiste of the Year – SP Kofi Sarpong

Best Female Vocalist of the Year – MzVee

Best Male Vocalist of the Year – Pat Thomas

African Artiste of the Year – Wizkid

Peace Song Winner – New Generation Gospel Ministers

Traditional Artiste of the Year – Tesa Music Group

Lifetime Achievement Award – AB Crentsil

Sound Engineer of the Year – Kaywa

Music for Development Award – Gasmilla

Instrumentalist of the Year – Justice Williams (Shikome)