Ghana Music Awards 2005: Exclusive Report

On April 30, hundreds of fans of all styles, shapes and colours and dozens of VIP’s were packed in the Accra International Conference Centre for the Ghana Music Awards 2005. Not many awards night can attract quite the number and scope of heads as Ghana Music Awards can. Enthusiastic fans waited in a line that extended around the block at the Accra International Conference Centre.

Media houses from all over the country and outside the country including yours truly Ghana Music.com surrounded the hall.  Spotted in the crowd this historic night were celebrities like Dele Momodu of Ovation magazine, Kenni and Dayo of Kennis Music Production, Bola Ray of Joy FM, Mr. Peter of South African Music Promoters Association, Goodies of Goodies Music Production.

Also present were Mark Okraku Mante of Slip Music, Mr. Max of World Bank, Mr. Steve Asamoah Boateng (Deputy Minister of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City), Mr. Stanley Nii Blankson (Mayor of Accra), Rama Brew of Today’s Woman fame, Mr. Fred Nuamah and the likes.

The evening’s hosts, Kwame Sefa Kayi of Peace FM and KOD of Radio Gold slowly came into view on the rising front stage. Immediate introductions were made for the evening’s first musical performance.

Magnificent Paa T and his dancers warmed up the crowd with some truly dancing skills and by the time FBS hit the stage, the place went wild. The floor had filled to capacity with the trio punishing the sweaty, ecstatic crowd with uplifting tunes from their album ‘Old Man Boogie’.

Accompanied by his entourage, Castro rocked the socks off hundreds of music fanatics in the process with his ‘Toffee’ track. You should have been there to see how he moved the crowd into frantic ecstasy with the ladies screaming and swooning and the guys grooving to his style.

Kwame Sefa Kayi and KOD then came on stage. As the proud presenters walked along the stage, smiles beaming, they appeared the very picture of what true presenters should be: equally at home with the audience as they were in front of the cameras.

Representatives of KPMG (event statisticians) climbed upstage and handed over the list of award winners to the President of MUSIGA, Alhaji Sidiku Buari making way for the presentation of the awards to begin.

The first segment began with Rama Brew presenting the New Gospel Artiste of the Year award to Lady Prempeh. At the mention of her name, the audience shouts to show how they were in support of her winning.

The ‘Linda’ star Batman who competed with Mad Fish, FBS and Bole for the New Hiplife Artiste of the Year category accepted his award as the New Hiplife Artiste of the Year 2004 presented to him by ACP Kofi Boakye (Greater Accra Police Regional Commander) and gave heartfelt words to the audience.

The esteemed Best Collaboration of the Year award honour, given to an artiste whose song has been adjudged by the Selection Committee, Planning Committee and the general public as the best song produced through a collaboration of two or more artistes and must have enjoyed lots of airplay on and off radio was presented to Tic Tac and Tony Tetuila by Kenni and Dayo of Kennis Music Production for the ‘Fefe na Efe’ track.

Standing together with Tony Tetuila, he delivered a moving acceptance statement which thanked God for seeing him through and his fans for supporting him.

Resplendent in a white shirt, Batman once again graciously received an award for the New Artiste of the Year presented to him by the General Manager of Unique Trust, Captain Budu Koomson.

Comedian Gbenga Adeyinka I of Nigeria drew tremendous applause as he took the stage with some riotous comments with the audience laughing their heads off.

Continuing with musical performances, K.K Fosu who came on stage being carried and Kofi Nti stunned the crowd with their dance-to-your-feet tracks accompanied by their dancers.

Kwame Sefa Kayi takes the stage again for the second segment to begin. Gerald Gyimah (Phamous People) took home the Best Music Video Directing award for ‘Yeko Mmaa Pe’ by Kwaadee which was presented to him by Mr. Max (a representative of World Bank).

The Mayor of Accra, Mr. Stanley Nii Blankson announced that 2 Face Idibia with his ‘African Queen’ track was the recipient of the African Song of the Year award.

Agnes Opoku Agyeman who has never won an award before, won the Best Female Vocal Performance of the Year award. “Meda Onyankopon Ase Se W’aboa Me” (I thank God for helping me) were her last words.

For the first time, K.K Fosu accompanied by Bola Ray, Kokovelli and Batman won the Best Male Vocal Performance of the Year award and hear this: the Trinity clan (Batman, K.K Fosu and Kokovelli) after their differences are back and they did an acapella together.

KOD then takes over from Kwame Sefa Kayi to introduce Gospel singer Pastor Josh Laryea to perform his ‘Ngboo’ track. With a live band behind him, the song brought the house down.

As Agnes Opoku Agyeman came on stage to perform, she led the entire crowd to praise and worship with her ‘Mennsan M’akyi’ tune.

Alhaji Sidiku Buari presented the Hiplife Album of the Year award to Obour for ‘Atumpan’ with Esther Smith taking home the Gospel Album of the Year award for ‘Onyame Boafo’.

The Contemporary Highlife Album of the Year award went to Ofori Amponsah who was represented by Radicle B of Ghana.Co.UK for his ‘Sardine’ album.

Rex Omar served the audience back-to-back hits from his albums and showed the audience what time it was.

Kwame Sefa Kayi returns to call upon Dr. Kofi Amoah to present the Hiplife Artiste of the Year award which went to Obour.

The Gospel Artiste of the Year award went to Seth Frimpong of ‘Mehuri So’ fame. Other awards include Contemporary Highlife Artiste of the Year award which went to K.K Fosu, Hiplife Song of the Year award which went to Obour for ‘Konkontibaa’ presented to him by Mr. Tunde of Lighthouse Family.

Contemporary Song of the Year award went to Rex Omar for ‘Dadadida, Gospel Song of the Year award to Esther Smith for ‘Nipa’, Artiste of the Year award to Obour presented to him by a representative of South African Music Promoters Association Mr. Peter and Album of the Year award to Esther Smith presented to her by a representative of EMI Records.

Accra International Conference Centre went wild with sparkling tunes from Tic Tac with his entourage. Tic Tac with his ‘Kwani Kwani’ song brought the crowd to their  feet and when he began singing ‘Fefe Na Efe’ with Tony Tetuila, the song brought the house down as he had the happily swaying crowd captivated from the start.

The biggest surprise of the night came from Obour when he came from the top of the roof singing ‘Minwu Biom’ with his dancers doing their own thing on the dance floor. The audience went Nigerian as Obour  together with Tic Tac and Papa Shanti sang ‘Shyne Ur Eye’ with members of the audience jumping upstage to dance.

2 Face Idibia lighted up the audience with his ‘African Queen’ tune and other songs from his repertoire. If there was an award for Best Performance of the Year, Tic Tac, Obour, Castro, 2 Face, FBS, Rex Omar, K.K Fosu, Agnes Opoku Agyeman, Pastor Josh Laryea and Kofi Nti will have competed for it.

The Most Popular Song of the Year award, the ceremony’s highest honour and the much anticipated award which was announced jointly by Mr. Steve Asamoah Boateng and Kwame Sefa Kayi who burst into evident expressions of delight went to Obour for his ‘Konkontibaa’ song.

It was very clear that the year’s winner was going to be Obour. Obour’s ‘Konkontibaa’, which saw him winning most of the awards tied out Esther Smith’s three awards.

Kudos to Charter House for an event well organized.

Check the Photo Gallery [Events section] for pictures from the event.

Reports: Kevin Adisi, Additional reports: Sophia Mensah, Ghana Music.com