Accra: Following the release of the nominees list for the 2026 Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA), several artistes have submitted petitions to the TGMA board seeking clarifications or questioning their exclusion from certain categories. Artistes such as AratheJay, LalixLola, and RCee are among those who have petitioned the board.
According to Ghana Web, Robert Klah, spokesperson for the TGMAs, confirmed the receipt of more than ten official petitions from artistes ahead of the awards. He assured that each petition would receive a direct response from the board, although these responses will be communicated privately to the petitioners and not made public.
Speaking on UTV's United Showbiz, Klah mentioned that the board has already conducted meetings to finalize decisions on the petitions. He emphasized that while the board will provide answers to each petitioner, it is at the discretion of the petitioners to share those responses publicly. Klah assured that all petitioners will receive feedback by March 31.
Klah also addressed concerns about the board's decision-making process, reinforcing that any adjustments are made to maintain the integrity and responsiveness of the awards scheme. He explained that the board operates with an operational guide that allows for necessary adjustments to uphold the scheme's objectives.
In this 2026 edition, the TGMA Board introduced a 'Swing Period', which allows consideration of projects released in December of the year before the year in review. This change has sparked discussions about potential favoritism, but Klah clarified that the concept had been under development for over three years before its official announcement.
The comments come at a time of increased scrutiny of the 2026 TGMA nominations cycle, with industry players and fans debating the eligibility rules and selection process of the awards.