While some industry players are advocating for the return of the Group of the Year category at this year’s Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA), the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Charterhouse, Robert Klah, remains uncertain about its reinstatement.
The call for its return has been fueled by the outstanding performances of groups like Dope Nation and Team Eternity Ghana (TEG) during the year under review.
Speaking to Graphic Showbiz on Sunday, February 16, Mr. Klah stated that it was still too early to confirm the inclusion of the category. With nominations closing on the same day and the TGMA board yet to convene for the selection process, no official decision has been made.
However, he noted that if the board determines the Group of the Year category to be competitive enough based on submitted entries, it may be reinstated.
“I want to make it clear that Charterhouse has always maintained that Group of the Year will return if it is competitive,” he explained.
“At this point, I can’t say yes or no because the board has yet to meet. The decision will be made after assessing the performance of groups during the year under review,” he added.
The Group of the Year award has been absent from the TGMA since 2021, when Bethel Revival Choir made history by winning the title, beating groups such as R2Bees, La Même Gang, and Dope Nation. Despite continued releases and performances from groups like La Même Gang, R2Bees, and Dope Nation, the category has remained off the nominations list, sparking discussions about the TGMA board’s criteria for selection.
In the past year, groups like Team Eternity Ghana and Dope Nation dominated the airwaves with hit songs Defe Defe and Zormizor respectively, reigniting conversations about bringing back the category.
A letter addressed to the TGMA board on February 3 by music duo Lali X Lola expressed concerns over the category’s absence, emphasizing the resurgence of talented groups in Ghana’s music industry. They cited Dope Nation, Keche, Team Eternity, Bhad Mayors, and themselves as strong contenders for the award.
Responding to these concerns, Robert Klah reiterated his position, encouraging music groups to consider competing in other categories rather than focusing solely on Group of the Year.
“Why limit themselves to just Group of the Year when they can submit entries for other categories?” he questioned.
“For example, Team Eternity had an exceptional year, and depending on their performance and the board’s assessment, they can compete in gospel categories such as Most Popular Song, Artiste of the Year, or Collaboration of the Year if applicable.”
“The same applies to other groups in different genres—they shouldn’t restrict themselves to just Group of the Year when there are many other competitive categories available,” he added.