As the 17th edition of the Ghana Music Awards is drawing nearer, there have been discussions regarding whether or not to maintain the Gospel Album of the Year category, George Quaye, Public Relations Officer of the event company, Charterhouse Productions Limited has said.

The argument, according to him, has been why there should be such a category when the same cannot be said of other genres.

George Quaye has indicated that the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards board will take a decision on that when they sit.

“Some section of the public have opined strongly that if other genres do not have album categories but compete in the general category, why should there be a Gospel Album of the Year category? Why shouldn’t there be Highlife, Reggae/Dancehall Album of the Year categories as well? It is a discussion that has gone on several platforms and I’m sure it is something that will come up when the board sits,” he said on Daybreak Hitz with KMJ.

Asked if the explanation that the gospel artistes have been releasing albums and that is why that credit is given, George answered, “Exactly the same argument. If the gospel people are releasing albums after albums and their albums are good, why don’t they just compete with everybody else in the Album of the Year category?”

He disagreed with assertions that a change will be unfavourable to gospel musicians.

“Our gospel people are doing great things and I know they will cause some upset when they are put in the Album of the Year category. I don’t think they are going to be worried at all. I don’t think it is going to marginalise them in anyway at all. I think it’s going to foster some healthy competition. And if anybody should be worried, it should be those at the other genres,” he noted.

Gifty Osei won the Gospel Album category in 2012 with her Fefeefe album while Cwesi Oteng’s Mercy Project won in 2013. Nyame Eguama by Joyce Blessing and Evangelist Diana Asamoah’s Pentecost Asoredwom won in 2014 and 2015 respectively. The award is mostly given during the Industry Awards night.