Accra: The management of popular Ghanaian Afrobeats artiste Lasmid has formally petitioned the Telecel Ghana Music Awards board, requesting a review of the Best Afrobeats Artiste category. According to his team, Lasmid was left off the nominee list despite what they describe as one of the most impactful years by any Ghanaian act in 2025.
According to Ghana Web, in a detailed letter dated March 15, 2026, and sighted on March 18, Lasmid's management, operating under NE Records, laid their case, citing streaming figures, chart performance, social media dominance, major collaborations, and a Guinness World Record. The petition highlighted that Lasmid garnered over 111 million total Spotify streams, with 81 million as the lead artiste, across major hits such as Olivia, Friday Night, Ghana Jollof, and Meet 4 Corner.
The petition detailed that on Audiomack, Olivia alone racked up 19 million plays, 106,000 likes, and 138,000 playlist adds. His 2025 single Weekend Vibes hit one million combined streams in just four days across Boomplay and Audiomack. The petition stated, 'These streaming figures affirm Lasmid's digital footprint as one of Ghana's top Afrobeats performers in 2025.'
The document further noted that songs associated with Lasmid, such as 'Olivia', 'Meet 4 Corner', and 'No Issues', generated over 100,000 user-created videos across TikTok and Instagram Reels, contributing to increased streams and platform engagement. 'Lasmid's output in 2025 has not only driven streaming but also amplified fan participation on social media, a key metric for contemporary Afrobeats relevance,' the petition added.
The petition also emphasized Lasmid's 2025 collaborations, including his joint project Sweet Songs For You with Nigerian artiste TML Vibez, and his feature on Sarkodie's Lavida Loca, which was praised as one of the season's strongest cross-genre records. 'These contributions are clear markers of his creative influence across Ghana's music network,' the petition explained.
Additionally, Lasmid's participation in Trench Symphony: The Dapper Live Experience, officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the Largest Orchestra for an Afrobeats Concert in history, was highlighted. His management claimed, 'No other Ghanaian Afrobeats artiste in 2025 can claim that level of genre innovation and international recognition.'
The management framed the petition as a request for transparency rather than a demand for change. 'In light of the achievements outlined above, we respectfully request that the Nomination Board of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards revisit and review the Best Afrobeats Artiste category to ensure that the nominations accurately reflect measurable contributions within the year under review,' the petition stated.
This request adds to a growing wave of scrutiny surrounding this year's TGMA nominations, with AratheJay's team also filing a separate review request over exclusions in other categories. Charterhouse is yet to publicly respond to either petition. The awards ceremony is scheduled for May 9, 2026.