As part of efforts to promote quality gospel music videos in Ghana, ChurchHouse Entertainment has launched the maiden Gospel Music Video Awards in Ghana.

The launch sets the stage for the awards night originally slated for May 28, 2011 but organizers said the date has been shifted to June this year at the National Theatre.

Media and Publicity Coordinator of Church House Entertainment Joshua Obuam told Adom Entertainment News the maiden edition would be used to reward great gospel music videos and also encourage excellence in gospel video music production in Ghana.

He noted that even though gospel music constituted about 60 per cent of music in Ghana not much premium has been placed on rewarding gospel musicians in the country.

Joshua Obuam observed that gospel music had not been given its due on the Ghana Music Awards scheme and that made gospel musician feel left out and this new scheme has been designed to give gospel music its due recognition.

“We are rewarding videos from 2009 to 2010 for the first edition and then we will keep to one year in the subsequent editions,” he said.

He mentioned some of the competitive categories as Best Male Video, Best Female Video, Best Choir and Group Video, Best Collaboration, Best Dance and Choreography, Best Reggae Video, Best Contemporary Gospel Music Video, Best Storyline, and Overall Best Video among others.

Joshua Obuam said apart from the competitive categories some special industry players would be given honorary awards dubbed “Industry Impact Awards” at the same function.

“The industry impact awards are for personalities and groups whose impact in the gospel music industry is still resonating for year now.”

“Personalities and groups like Mary Gansah, Alabaster Box, Tagoe Sisters, Akosua Agyapong, Stella Dugan, and Rev. Tom Bright Davies and others have made lasting impact and they cannot be put in the competitive categories,” he said.

He said award winners would be decorated with citations and special plaques and would also get promotion packages on the platform of media partners and on the Churchhouse website.