Ghana Music Awards USA 2020: All the nominees

The event was hosted virtually on the Kofi TV YouTube channel, with musical performances from Wendy Shay, Article Wan, Qwaachi, and SP Kofi Sarpong.

While the organisers did not reveal the specific date of the main event, which was initially postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they are confident that it will take place in October or November this year.

Among the nominees are Shatta Wale, Sarkodie, Samini and Diana Hamilton, all of whom are in the running for the coveted Artist of the Year Award.

“We want it to be the most respected awards scheme in the diaspora and Ghana entertainment industry,” 2Geez Entertainment CEO Godfred Wiafe said in January. “Voting is 40% for board, 20% for academy and 40% for the general public”, with the exception of the Popular Song of the Year category, which constitutes 80% public voting and 20% board voting.

At the nominees' announcement, Don's Music Production CEO and executive director Dennis Boafo said: "Music plays a very essential role in our daily existence. Throughout history, music has been an integral part of the human race[...]Life without music is meaningless. So it is very imperative for us to appreciate and recognise the effort our musicians put in to bring us good music. For that reason, we as the Ghana Music Awards USA seek to appreciate and award the most influential and iconic musicians in our society, in Ghana and the US.

Fans can vote for their favourite acts via Facebook.

The Ghana Music Awards USA are organised by Don’s Music Production in partnership with 2Geez Entertainment and Highlife Media USA, with the aim of “encouraging and recognising Ghanaian musicians in the diaspora, especially in the US to actively participate in promoting and celebrating Ghana music."

Below are the nominees:

New Artist of the Year

• Fameye
• Sefa
• Kofi Mole
• Fantana
• MOG music
• Kawoula Biov
• Iona
• J.Derobie
• Lord Paper

Gospel Artist of the Year

• Celestine Donkor
• Ceccy Twum
• SP Kofi Sarpong
• Joyce Blessing
• Akesse Brempong
• Diana Hamilton 

Male Vocalist of the Year

• Akwaboah – 'Gansta Love'
• KiDi – 'Sugar Daddy'
• King Promise – 'Bra'
• Nacee – 'Mpaebo'
• Kuami Eugene – 'Ohema'
• Kojo Antwi – 'Bra' 

Highlife Song of the Year

• 'Our Story' – Dada Hafco ft. Fameye
• 'Ohemaa' – Kuami Eugene ft. KiDi
• 'Things Fall Apart' – Kofi Kinaata
• 'Melissa' – Shatta Wale
• 'Sika' – Adina
• 'Bra' – King Promise
• 'Moonlight' – Bless
• 'Saara' – Sarkodie ft. Efya 

Hiplife Song of the Year

• 'Amanfuor Girls' – Quamina MP ft. Medikal
• 'Oofeetso' – Sarkodie ft. Prince Bright
• 'Weather' – Sista Afia ft. Medikal & Quamina MP
• 'Zanku' – Dope Nation
• 'Nothing I Get' – Fameye
• 'Davi Ne Ba' – Kawoula Biov ft. Patapaa
• 'Bad Energy' – Guru ft Kwesi Swat

 Best Collaboration

• 'Amanfuor Girls' – Quamina MP ft. Medikal
• 'Dondo (Remix)' – Kwaw Kese ft. Skonti, Sarkodie, Medikal and Mr. Eazi
• 'Saara' – Sarkodie ft. Efya
• 'Ololo' – Stonebwoy ft. Teni
• 'Weather' – Sista Afia ft. Medikal and Quamina MP
• 'Stevie Wonder' – Wendy Shay ft. Shatta Wale
• 'Mea' – Kelvyn Boy ft. Joey B
• 'Nobody' – Kwesi Arthur ft. Mr. Eazi
• 'Omo Ada' – Medikal ft. Fella Makafui and Shatta Wale

Gospel Song of the Year

• 'W’asem' – Diana Hamilton
• 'Agbebolo' – Celestine Donkor ft. Nhyiraba Gideon
• 'Repent' – Joyce Blessing
• 'Di Wo Hene' – Ceccy Twum ft. Joe Mettle
• 'Mpaebo' – Nacee
• 'Aseda Kesie' – Piesie Esther
• 'Crazy Love Remix' – Akesse Brempong ft. Bernard Franklyn
• 'Yawo' – Bethel Revival choir
• 'Mehia wo Jesu' – Joe Mettle

Group of the Year

• Dope Nation
• R2Bees
• Bethel Revival Choir
• Keche
• La Meme Gang

Female Vocalist of the Year

• Efya – 'Saara'
• Joyce Blessing – 'Adam Nana'
• eShun – 'Handcuff'
• Ceccy Twum – 'Di Wo Hene'
• Diana Hamilton – 'Nsenkyerene Nyankopon'
• Celestine Donkor – 'Agbebolo'
• Sista Afia – 'Broken Heart'

Highlife Artist of the Year

• KiDi
• Dada Hafco
• Kuami Eugene
• Eshun
• Kofi Kinaata
• King Promise
• Akwaboah
• Adina

Hiplife/Hip Hop Artist of the Year

• Medikal
• Sarkodie
• Fameye
• Quamina Mp
• Kwesi Arthur
• Dope Nation
• Kwaw Kese
• Manifest

 Artist of the Year

• Medikal
• Sarkodie
• Shatta Wale
• Stonebwoy
• Kofi Kinaata
• Fameye
• Diana Hamilton
• Samini

Most Popular Song of the Year

• 'Oofeetso' – Sarkodie ft. Prince Bright
• 'Things Fall Apart' – Kofi Kinaata
• 'W’asem' – Diana Hamilton
• 'Melissa' – Shatta Wale
• 'Shugah' – Stonebwoy ft. Beenie Man
• 'Nothing I Get' – Fameye
• 'Omo Ada' (Remix) – Medikal ft. Shatta Wale and Fella Makafui
• 'Davi Ne Ba' – Kawoula Biov ft. Patapaa
• 'Zanku' – Dope Nation
• 'Toto Remix' – Edem ft. Davido
• 'Stevie Wonder' – Wendy Shay ft. Shatta Wale

Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year

• 'Me Mpaebo' – Ras Kuuku
• 'Tuff Seed' – Stonebwoy
• 'Aye Halfcast' – Shatta Wale
• 'Poverty' – J Derobie
• 'Reggae' – Article Wan
• 'Obra' – Samini 

Reggae/Dancehall Artist of the Year

• Stonebwoy
• Shatta Wale
• Epixode
• Ras Kuuku
• Samini

Rapper of the Year

• Medikal – 'Higher'
• Sarkodie – 'Legend'
• Strongman – 'Ups and Downs'
• Manifest – 'Ups and Downs'
• Flowking Stone – 'Let them Know'
• Teephlow – 'God’s Own'
• Eno Barony – 'Voice of Truth'
• Kwesi Arthur – 'New York State of Mind'

Music Producer of the Year

• DDT – 'Our Story' – Dada Hafco ft Fameye
• Da Maker – 'Melissa' – Shatta Wale
• MOG – 'Oofeetso' – Sarkodie
• B2 – 'Nothing I Get'' – Fameye
• Nacee – 'Mpaebo' – Nacee

Ghanaian Traditional and Cultural Act of the Year

• Wiyaala
• King Ayisoba
• Sherifa Gunu
• Big Gad
• Afro Moses

Best African Act

• Burna Boy
• Diamond Platinumz
• Cassper Nyovest
• Davido
• Wizkid
• Mr. Eazi
• Rudebwoy
• Afro B

US-based Uncovered Artist of the Year

• Fresh Naro
• Freddy Spirit
• Ralphy Vies
• Myra Kay
• Jayhover
• Clem Biney
• Jamin Beats
• Dem Tinz
• Kinyanki
• Toni Amani
• Ms. Kumi
• Yung Theoryy

 US-based Afropop Song of the Year

• 'Bad Rmx' – Yun Kobe ft. Fameye
• '3y3 d3' – Yaw Morocco
• 'Obaa' – Archipalago
• 'Mempena' – Kwesoul
• 'Waist' – Slymboy
• 'Piesie' – Myra Kay
• 'Oforiwaa' – Quayku Dsoul
• 'Story' – KayKay Amponsah ft. Clemento Suarez
• 'Forgetti '– Freddy X
• 'Forever' – Kobe Nyce
• 'Maa Adwoa' – Yung Theorry ft. Paul Noun

US-based Artist of the Year

• Kwesoul
• Archipalago
• Slymboy
• Millicent Yankey
• Nana NYC
• Yesubi
• Yun Kobe
• Herty Corgie

Best US-Based Afropop Artist of the Year

• 2Shy
• Ohene Ntow
• Archipalago
• Kwesoul
• Nee Oseye Ade Leke
• Quayku Dsoul
• KayKay Amponsah
• Freddy X
• Slymboy
• Natty Bee
• Verses Burner

 US-based Gospel Song of the Year

• 'Hwan Koraa' – Millicent Yankey
• 'Nkunim' – Melody Frempong
• 'My Gratitude' – Humphrey Tettey
• 'Jehova Maozi' – Stella Addo
• 'Ololufemi (My Darling)' – Fletcher Narh
• 'Amen' – Kwesoul
• 'Miracle Working God' – Minister Ike ft. SP Kofi
• 'Sarpong'
• 'Yahweh' – Herty Corgie

US-based Gospel Artist of the Year

• Millcent Yankey
• Melody Frempong
• Humphrey Tettey
• Esther Afua Yirenkyi
• Stella Addo
• Fletcher Narh
• Minister Ike
• Fritz Oakley
• Herty Corgie

US-based Best DJ of the Year

• DJ Zag – Ohio
• DJ Sabato – Virginia
• DJ RB Nice – New York
• DJ Frankie – Atlanta, Georgia
• DJ A1 – Philadelphia
• DJ Wyse – Worcester, MA
• DJ G’Nyce – Bronx, NY

Emerging Act of the Year

• Sherry Boss
• Shay D
• Abochi
• Queen Haizel
• Lyzzy Bae
• Erny
• Amaru Wan
• Jodiba
• Ssue