The Categorization Committee for the biggest annual musical event in the nation’s entertainment calendar, “The Ghana Music Awards” has completed the categorization of this year’s music awards slated for the 10th of April this year.

Speaking on Peace FM’s “Entertainment Review Programme”, the CEO of Slip Music Entertainment and a Member of the Planning Committee of the Ghana Music Awards, Mark Okraku Mantey, confirmed the completion of the final nomination list in various categories of the event, stating that “it will be released to the media very soon.”

Recounting what the selection process entails, he stated that “the real industry players such as Amandzeba, Billy Ocean, David Dontoh, Abraham Ohene Djan, Bull Dog amongst others, met under one roof and brainstormed amidst heated arguments as to what must come under what.”

According to him, so challenging was the process that one of the members, Abraham Ohene Djan of O.M studios, even suggested that the “exercise if captured on TV for the masses will be good.”

Mark reiterated that categorization of music in Ghana has become extremely difficult with regards to new trends and genres, citing “Swagger” by “Ruff and Smooth” as a typical example.

“Some highlife musicians have adopted a system of releasing albums some years apart, this creates a huge problem for the categorization in the highlife section.….Amandzeba and Oheneba Kissi have not released an album in the last 5 and 2 years respectively….but Daddy Lumba (DL) Nana Acheampong must be commended for keeping the pace with their constant releases,” he stated.

Asked whether there will be any awards for backing vocalists, Mr. Okraku rather countered by throwing a challenge to such vocalists to evolve and step away from being in the shadows and be in the spotlight.

“After several years of complementing hits with their vocals, they could make better musicians with all the experience they’ve acquired…Mary Adjepong, one-time backing vocalist moved into mainstream singing and was successful as was evidence with her hit song “Adi Deede,” he said.

The Ghana Music Awards, has for some time, been hit with so many controversies ranging from categorization, nominations and even eventual winners. This year’s edition is likely to suffer a similar fate and might be hit with another controversy relating to the fusion of Hip-Life and Hip-Pop.