Ghanaian gospel artiste, Patience Nyarko, has attributed the success of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) to the nationality of the founder, Iyola Ayoade.
While commending the organisers of the awards for running the scheme for over 20 years, she told Mike 2 on Adom FM’s Entertainment Hall that if the VGMA organisers were Ghanaians, the award scheme would not have come this far.
“Ghana Music Awards has really helped Ghana’s music industry even though they are running their business. Let’s consider the various awards we have, which of them is able to live up to expectation than the VGMAs.
Some people complain that it is organised by a Nigerian but the fact is that it would have collapsed if it was a organised by a Ghanaian,” she said.
She, therefore, wondered what Ghana has been able to execute successfully and sustained.
That notwithstanding, Nyarko expressed her misgivings about the fairness of the VGMA, particularly in the selection of award winners.
She claimed her song ‘Obi Nyane Me’ deserved the Most Popular Song of the Year award but didn’t even get any nomination.
“Look at my song, ‘Obi Nyane Me’; it was popular and deserved Most Popular Song of the Year award, but it never happened. But I understand that business people will think about their interests, so it’s okay,” she said.
The Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA), is organised by Charterhouse Productions, a company owned by Nigerian business magnate Iyola Ayoade and his Ghanaian wife Theresa Ayoade.
Established in 2000, the 24th edition of the scheme was held this year at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre.
The VGMA celebrates and recognizes outstanding achievements in the Ghanaian music scene and has played a significant role in promoting local talent on the global stage.
It is the most anticipated event on the Ghanaian entertainment calendar, in spite of the criticism that comes with it.