The Grand Arena in Accra became the centre of Ghanaian musical brilliance on Saturday, 9 May 2026, as the 27th edition of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards honoured the country’s most outstanding performers, songwriters and producers in a glamorous celebration of artistic achievement.
The ceremony belonged largely to Black Sherif, who once again secured the coveted Artiste of the Year distinction, repeating the triumph he first achieved in 2023. The acclaimed “Iron Boy” hitmaker dominated the evening with five awards, reinforcing his growing authority within African music following an exceptional year characterised by massive streaming numbers, global recognition and consistent chart success.
His acclaimed project “Iron Boy” captured Album or EP of the Year, while his emotionally resonant anthem “Sacrifice” earned both Songwriter of the Year and Best Afropop Song honours. His track “WHERE DEM BOYS” also emerged victorious in the Best Hiphop Song category, cementing his influence across multiple musical styles.
The awards night equally highlighted the resurgence of Medikal, whose remarkable run produced four major victories. The celebrated rapper reclaimed the Best Hiplife or HipHop Artiste title and also secured Best Hiplife Song, Collaboration of the Year and Most Popular Song of the Year through the explosive anthem “Shoulder,” featuring Shatta Wale and Beeztrap KOTM. The song evolved into one of the most commercially successful and culturally dominant releases of the year, further strengthening Medikal’s standing within Ghana’s contemporary music landscape.
Meanwhile, Kofi Kinaata once again demonstrated his lyrical sophistication and highlife mastery after collecting two awards, including Best Highlife Song for “It Is Finished” and Best Highlife Artiste. His continued consistency reaffirmed his place among the nation’s most respected storytellers and composers.
Internationally recognised singer Moliy also enjoyed a memorable evening after securing two honours through the globally celebrated “Shake It To The Max Remix,” which featured Shenseea, Skillibeng and Silent Addy. The remix earned both International Collaboration of the Year and Best Reggae or Dancehall Song, reflecting the growing international reach of Ghanaian music collaborations.
In the gospel categories, Diana Hamilton emerged as Best Gospel Artiste, while Piesie Esther won Best Traditional Gospel Song with “Nyame Ye.” Kofi Owusu Peprah also claimed Best Urban or Contemporary Gospel Song through “Big God Afro.”
The vocal performance divisions produced impressive winners, with Asiama triumphing in Best Male Vocal Performance for “Akoma,” while Enam secured Best Female Vocal Performance with “Amin.” Strongman’s “Mensei Da” claimed Best Rap Performance, further highlighting the competitive nature of the rap categories this year.
The Best New Artiste accolade went to Kojo Blak following a breakthrough year marked by commercial growth and widespread audience acceptance. Wendy Shay also secured recognition after winning Best Afrobeats or Afropop Artiste, outperforming a highly competitive field that included Gyakie, KiDi and Moliy.
Veteran reggae and dancehall icon Stonebwoy maintained his dominance within his genre after winning Best Reggae or Dancehall Artiste, while legendary musician Daddy Lumba received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his immense contribution to Ghanaian music across several decades.
Elsewhere, Keche captured the Best Group category, while Lali x Lola secured the Music for Good honour through their breast cancer awareness themed project “Crox It Out.” Daniel Grüll also emerged victorious as Audio Engineer of the Year for his work on “Enso Nyame Y3.”
The continental category saw Nigerian superstar Davido and Omah Lay triumph with “With You,” which won Best African Song ahead of entries from Burna Boy, Rema and Tyla.
The 27th edition of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards ultimately delivered another defining moment for Ghana’s entertainment industry, showcasing the evolving diversity, international appeal and creative excellence shaping contemporary African music.
