Over the years, some gospel artistes have had verbal altercations with each other regarding who deserves to win which award at the annual Ghana Music Awards.
The debate on whether or not gospel artistes should air their misgivings about the scheme has received dissenting opinions from entertainment pundits, gospel artistes and the general public.
Gospel artiste, Minister OJ has described the act of some of his colleagues fighting over not being nominated or adjudged winners of music awards as infantile.
The “Maye se wo pen” hit maker told Brunch2Lunch host, Abrantepa on Radio Univers in Accra, that any gospel artiste who fights over awards is not only a baby in Christ but childish.
“If you are a gospel artiste and you fight over awards, you are childish. Why will you fight your fellow gospel artiste over awards? God gave us the talent to complete each other and not to compete. If you do that, it shows you are wrongly motivated. It’s either you are just interested in the money and fame or you are using it as a stepping stone to achieving other opportunities and later stop singing”, he noted.
OJ however advised gospel artistes to focus on their ministry rather than concentrating on winning awards. According to him, awards are just recognition of their efforts.
“It is good to be recognized but that shouldn’t be your priority. If you focus on ministering, God can cause someone to give you a mouthwatering gift which will be of higher value than the award and can change your life overnight”.
He indicated that when he lost the Songwriter of the Year to Bisa Kdei in 2014, he never complained. The people in the auditorium and a section of the general public spoke for him.