George Quaye urges TGMA to create honourary category for artistes of Shatta Wale’s status 

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 introducing a special non competitive 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 after a successful ShattaFest 2025 event. Charterhouse Ghana Limited, also an event company, produced the historic show, which took place at Independence Square in Accra on Saturday, October 18, 2025. ShattaFest 2025 pulled an unprecedented crowd with thousands of fans trooping to the venue to celebrate Shatta Wale.

Shatta Wale and his team visited Charterhouse to express their appreciation.

Speaking at the meeting, George Quaye said that considering the achievements of certain artistes in the industry, it would be uncomfortable to place them in competitive categories.

“Imagine Shatta Wale competing with an up and coming artiste, someone who has done well in the year under review and all that and then the up and coming artiste wins, because of the dynamics of the game which of course cannot be manipulated in any way.

Looking at that, it may not be cool to put him in a category like that the scheme could look like categories that honour artistes like him, so that it is not competitive. So that if for instance in a year like this that it is clear that Shatta has done well, I don’t know what that category will be but it is not competitive. It is an honour that will come with a mini documentary, it can come with something else, if we can look at something like that,” he said.

George added that this category could be tailored along the model of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards, where veteran musicians who have excelled in their careers over the years and have made great impact are honoured.

According to him, this will benefit the artistes, the scheme and the fans.

“Sometimes when it comes to the competitive categories various dynamics come to play and fan bases can just go and then they will vote and all of that. When sometimes, the Board may go one direction, Academy will go one direction and public will go one direction, and that is where the controversies are created,” he noted.

In her response, Theresah Ayoade, the Chief Executive Officer of Charterhouse, said she would relay George’s appeal to the Board of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards.

“It’s a suggestion and we can only take it to the Board for discussion but one thing I know is that the Telecel Ghana Music Awards is an evolving scheme and for 26 years, what it looked like when it started is not what it looks like now,” she said.

Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy were banned indefinitely from the music awards after their infamous on stage scuffle at the 2019 event. The ban was lifted in January 2021, paving the way for both artistes to return, although Shatta Wale has since expressed reluctance to be part of the scheme again.

He has however indicated that he would not mind partnering the awards scheme with his Shaxi ride hailing business.

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.