Officials of the Ghana Northern Music Awards have defended the decision to award Saint Chicago the Upper East Artiste of the Year title amid criticisms from sections of the music industry.
Speaking on Dreamz FM’s Work Stretch programme with DJ Skimmy, GNMA representatives said the artiste earned the award through the voting process and the impact of his music within the region.
The organizers explained that the awards scheme followed laid-down procedures and involved public participation, adding that the results reflected the support artistes received from fans.
Programs Manager Hameed Mohammed said some criticisms often emerge after award events because fans and supporters may have different expectations about who deserves to win.
“Everybody will have their own opinion about who should win,” he said. “But the scheme followed its processes.”
The GNMA team insisted that the award was not handed out based on favoritism but on performance, visibility and support gathered during the award period.
CEO Sakura also stressed that the awards scheme was created to promote northern musicians fairly and transparently.
“We are trying to build a platform that will support artistes across the north,” he said.
The organizers noted that every artiste had the opportunity to mobilize support through the voting system and campaign activities.
They further encouraged musicians and fans to support the growth of the northern music industry instead of allowing disagreements over award outcomes to create division.
According to the team, criticism and public debate are normal in entertainment awards but should contribute positively toward improving the industry.
The GNMA officials added that they remain committed to strengthening the credibility of the scheme while promoting talents from across northern Ghana.
