Winners of Artiste of the Year award from 1999 to 2025
Since its introduction in 1999, the Artiste of the Year category has remained the most coveted and hotly contested honour at the Ghana Music Awards.
Widely regarded as the highest recognition a Ghanaian musician can receive, the award comes with immense prestige and bragging rights.
This year, seven artists are in the running for the top prize: Stonebwoy, King Promise, Black Sherif, King Paluta, Team Eternity, Kweku Smoke, and Joe Mettle. Each nominee has made a significant impact on the music scene, sparking passionate discussions among fans across social media platforms about who deserves to take home the title.
Over the years, the Artiste of the Year award has built a rich legacy, with past winners reflecting the evolving sound and diversity of Ghanaian music.
One notable moment came in 2017, when Joe Mettle became the first gospel musician to claim the title. Black Sherif, also a former winner, is back in the spotlight and could repeat his triumph, thanks to a string of international successes and chart-topping hits over the past year.
The full list of previous winners reads like a who’s who of Ghanaian music, highlighting the stars who have helped shape the industry. As anticipation builds ahead of the awards ceremony, all eyes are on who will join that exclusive club and be crowned Artiste of the Year in 2025.
See list below
1999-Akyeame (Quophi Okyeame and Okyeame Kwame)
2000-Daddy Lumba
2001-Kojo Antwi
2002-Lord Kenya
2003-Kontihene
2004-VVIP
2005-Obour
2006-Ofori Amponsah
2007-Samini
2008-Kwaw Kese
2009-Okyeame Kwame
2010—Sarkodie
2011-VVIP
2012-Sarkodie
2013-R2Bees
2014-Shatta Wale
2015-Stonebwoy
2016-EL
2017-Joe Mettle
2018—Ebony
2019 – Annulled
2020 – Kuami Eugene
2021 – Diana Hamilton
2022 – KiDi
2023 – Black Sherif
2024 – Stonebwoy
2025 - King Promise