Buying votes makes awards meaningless – Kwaw Kese

Ghanaian rapper Kwaw Kese has disclosed that he is open to receiving nominations from award schemes, provided his work genuinely merits recognition.

Speaking in an interview on MX24 TV on February 19, 2026, the rapper addressed questions about whether he would welcome nominations, particularly from the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA).

“If my work deserves nominations and they nominate me, why not?” he said.

Kwaw Kese also revisited his controversial decision to return his plaque to the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA), explaining the reasons behind his action.

People assume I'm worldly because I don't sing gospel - Kwaw Kese

According to him, he became uncomfortable with the increasing trend of artistes sponsoring fans to vote for them.

“When the artistes started sponsoring their fans to vote, they were buying airtime for fans to vote for them to win the awards. When that happens, it means the awards are being bought and the highest bidder gets it,” he stated.

The rapper argued that award schemes should not be influenced by financial power, stressing that the integrity of such platforms must be protected.

“I felt awards schemes should be like that because after the vote, who makes the money? The organisers are making money out of the scheme and it shouldn’t be like that. If people are buying votes to get an award, then it means the award is for sale,” he added.

FG/AE

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