Organizers of the Ghana Northern Music Awards say the scheme was designed not only to reward artistes with plaques but also to promote and brand northern musicians for bigger opportunities.
Speaking during an interview on Dreamz FM’s Work Stretch programme, GNMA officials said winners of top categories received promotional support, media exposure and other incentives aimed at developing their careers.
Programs Manager Hameed Mohammed explained that the overall Artiste of the Year category included a car prize package to help improve the branding and mobility of musicians.
“Most artistes struggle with transportation and branding, so the car was part of efforts to support them,” he said.
According to the organizers, winners were also expected to benefit from billboard promotions, media interviews and publicity opportunities across Ghana.
GNMA CEO Sakura said the awards scheme sought to position northern artistes for greater national recognition.
“When people see these artistes promoted across regions, it gives them more visibility and attracts investors,” he said.
The organizers also addressed concerns about transparency in award schemes, insisting that the GNMA voting process involved monitoring systems and representatives for artistes.
They explained that while some categories relied partly on board decisions, categories such as regional Artiste of the Year were determined strictly through public voting.
The team said the broader vision behind the scheme was to strengthen the northern music industry and encourage young talents to continue pursuing music professionally.
They added that veteran musicians, presenters and other industry stakeholders were also recognized for their contributions to entertainment development in northern Ghana.
