Team Lead for ImageBureau and former Public Relations Officer of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards, George Quaye, has called on Charterhouse, organisers of the scheme, to consider creating a special non-competitive award category to honour artistes of Shatta Wale’s pedigree.
He made the appeal when a delegation from Shatta Wale’s management paid a courtesy call on Charterhouse following the successful ShattaFest 2025 event. The festival, produced by Charterhouse Ghana Limited, took place at Independence Square in Accra on Saturday, October 18, 2025, and drew an unprecedented crowd as thousands of fans came together to celebrate the dancehall icon.
Shatta Wale and his team visited Charterhouse to express their appreciation for the collaboration that made the event possible. During the meeting, George Quaye highlighted that some artistes have achieved such remarkable feats that placing them in competitive award categories may not be ideal.
“Imagine Shatta Wale competing with an up-and-coming artiste — someone who has worked hard in the year under review — and then the new artiste wins because of how the voting system works. It might not be cool to put Shatta in that kind of competition,” Quaye explained.
He suggested that the scheme could instead introduce a special honourary category dedicated to artistes who have made outstanding contributions to Ghana’s music industry. This award, he said, would not be competitive but could include elements such as a mini-documentary celebrating the artiste’s journey and achievements.
George Quaye proposed that the new honour could be modeled after the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Telecel Ghana Music Awards, which celebrates veteran musicians who have significantly shaped Ghana’s music scene. According to him, this would create value for the artiste, the scheme, and fans alike.
“Sometimes, competitive categories bring challenges. Fan bases can influence voting results, and the decisions of the Board, Academy, and public can differ, leading to controversies. A non-competitive honour removes that tension,” he added.
In response, Theresah Ayoade, Chief Executive Officer of Charterhouse, commended the idea and assured that the proposal would be forwarded to the Board of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards for consideration.
“It’s a suggestion worth discussing. The Telecel Ghana Music Awards has evolved over 26 years, and it continues to grow and adapt. What it was at the beginning is not what it is now,” she remarked.
Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy were both banned indefinitely from the awards scheme after their infamous 2019 on-stage scuffle, but the ban was lifted in January 2021. Despite the reinstatement, Shatta Wale has expressed reluctance to rejoin the awards scheme, though he has shown interest in partnering with the TGMA through his Shaxi ride-hailing business.
The call by George Quaye has since sparked public discussion, with many fans and industry watchers supporting the idea as a fitting way to honour Shatta Wale’s enduring impact on Ghanaian music.The call by George Quaye has since sparked public discussion, with many fans and industry watchers supporting the idea as a fitting way to honour Shatta Wale’s enduring impact on Ghanaian music.
