Rapper EL tops Ghana’s VGMA list of nominees

Scheduled to hold on Monday 7 May at the Accra International Conference Centre, this edition is dominated by rapper EL. With 10 nominations including Artist of the Year and Most Popular Song of the Year, he is the man to beat. Such heavyweights as MzVee and Sarkodie follow with seven and six nominations respectively. Also with six nominations are super-group VVIP and singer Bisa Kdei.

Stonebwoy, who had a great 2015 filled with numerous national and international prizes, is up for five awards. In the category for African artists, Nigerian musicians take up every spot. The five artists nominated are Wizkid, Olamide, Korede Bello, Harry Song, and Patoranking.

As happens frequently with awards some controversy has come with the announcement. An outcry rang out online when it became apparent that the artist Eazi, a Nigerian based in Ghana, had failed to receive a single nomination for his work in 2015. The reason given for his exclusion, that he is not Ghanaian, has been criticised on social media. Also, making the rounds is the shutting out of Shatta Wale. The reggae artist was disqualified following disparaging remarks he made about the award show last year.

The full list of 2016 VGMA nominees is as follows:

• VVIP
• Sarkodie
• Bisa Kdei
• Stonebwoy
• SP Kofi Sarpong
• EL

• 'Skolom' - VVIP ft Sena Dagadu
• Mansa - Bisa Kdei
• 'Aporsor' - Nicholas Omane Acheapong
• 'Go Higher' - Stonebwoy
• 'Ekikime' - Wisa ft Luther
• 'Mi Naa bo po' - EL
• 'Ye wo Krom' - Atom
• 'Susuka' - Kofi Kinataa

• Verified - MzVee
• Mary - Sarkodie
• Elom - EL
• Breakthrough - Bisa Kdei
• I Believe - SP Kofi Sarpong

• 'Hour by Hour' – SP Kofi Sarpong ft Joyce Blessing
• 'Yoboyo' – Kofi Gyan
• 'W’ow nkwa wo wor Ade' – Mary Owusu
• 'Hyebere Sesafuor' – Obaapa Christie
• 'Aporsor' – Nicholas Omane Acheampong

• Obaapa Christie
• Joe Mettle
• Nicholas Omane Acheampong
• Patience Nyarko
• DSP Kofi Sarpong
• Preachers

• 'Take Away' – Acka Blay ft Cabum
• 'Hw3' – Becca
• 'Mansa' – Bisa Kdei
• 'Pimpinaa' – Obrafuor ft Bisa Kdei
• 'M’akoma' – R2bees
• 'Susuka' – Kofi Kanata
• 'Alewa' – Ofori Amponsah ft Sarkodie

• 'All Black' – E.L ft Pappy Kojo, Joey B
• 'Fire Bon Dem' – Flowking Stone
• 'Yakubu' – Kwaw Kese
• 'Hand to Mouth' – Sarkodie
• 'Nineteen Ninety' – Omar Sterling
• 'Ay3 Late' – Pappy Kojo ft Sarkodie

• 'Crusade' – Donzy ft Kofi Kinaata
• 'Ye Wo Krom' – Atom
• 'Koko' – E.L
• 'Ekiki Me' – Wisa ft Luther
• 'Skolom' – VVIP ft Sena Dagadu

• 'Serwaa Akoto' – Blakk Rasta
• 'It’s So Crazy' – De Voice
• 'Hold Me Now' - MzVee
• 'Go Higher' – Stonebwoy
• 'Holiday' – Ak Songstress
• 'Fire' – Jupitar ft Stonebwoy

• 'Boom Boom Beat' – Adina
• 'Me Do Wo' - Irene Loghan
• 'Hold Me Now' – MzVee
• 'Ego Bee' – Nana Yaa
• 'Sarkcess Story' – Efya
• 'Dumb Drum' – Yaa Yaa

• 'Afiyie' – Go Gaga
• 'De Voice' – It’s Crazy
• 'Knii Lantey' – Thinking Out Loud
• 'Pat Thomas' – Bra
• 'Mugeez' – Concert Party
• 'Akwaboah Jnr' – Me Wu Afro

• 'Only' – Fuse ODG
• 'Gboza' – R2Bees ft Davido
• 'Nyedzilo' – Edem ft Reekado
• 'Banks Abofra' – MzVee ft Efya
• 'Coastal Vibes' – Adina ft Trigmatic
• 'Mi Naa Bo Po' – E.L

• Mo Beat – 'Skolom'
• Bisa KDei/Kayawa – 'Mansa'
• Kwadwo Akwaboah – 'Aporsor'
• Beatz Dakar – 'Go Higher'
• E.L – 'MI Naa No Bo Po'
• Dr. Ray – 'Ye Wo Krom'
• King Dee – S'usuka'

• 'Coastal Vibes' – Adina ft Trigmatic
• 'Abofra' – MzVee ft Efya
• 'Concert Party' – R2Bees
• 'Bra' – Sarkodie ft Pat Thomas
• 'Dumb Drum' – Yaa Yaa
• 'Shine A Light' – Rocky Dawuni
• 'Forget Dem' – M.anifest

• Rex Omar – 'Paapa'
• Knii Lantey' – 'Beautiful Virgo'
• Kofi Kinaata – 'Susuka'
• MzVee, Richie & Efya – 'Abofra'
• Obrafour – 'Nkontompo'
• Stonebwoy – 'Go Higher'

• VVIP
• R2Bees
• Keche
• Gallaxy
• Preachers

• E.L – 'King Without A Crown'
• Flowking Stone - 'Fire Bon Dem'
• Omar Sterling – 'Nineteen Ninety'
• Pappy Kojo – 'Ay3 Late'
• Sarkodie – 'Hand to Mouth'

• 'Skolom' – VVIP ft Sena Dagadu
• 'Mewu' – Sarkodie ft Akwaboah Jnr
• 'Ay3 Late' – Pappy Kojo ft Sarkodie
• 'Ekiki Me' – Wisa ft Luther
• 'Crusade' – Donzy ft Kofi Kinaata
• 'Pimpinaa' – Obrafour ft Bisa KDei

• 'Shelele' – E.L
• 'Nkontompo' – Obrafour
• 'Dumb Drum' – Yaa Yaa
• 'Girlfriend' – Edem
• 'Crazy for God' – Preachers

• Nero X
• Donzy
• Wisa
• Teephlow
• Atom
• Kofi Kinaata

• Bisa Kdei
• Ofori Amponsah
• Afriyie
• Nero X

• Wizkid
• Olamide
• Korede Bello
• Harry Song
• Patoranking