Second Ghana Gospel Industry Awards launched

The second edition of the Ghana Gospel Industry Awards (GGIA) organised by Adom 106.3 FM has been launched with a promise of an unforgettable event by organizers.

The launch which took place on Multi TV on Adom TV’s morning show,Badwam Monday morning was short but quite impressive.

Instituted last year, the GGIA is aimed at rewarding players in the gospel industry who the organizers feel have not been given their due especially in terms of recognition even though the industry constitutes about 60 percent of the total music industry.

Even though last year’s edition was held on a relatively modest scale, the level of success the GGIA attained is what has spurred Adom FM on to go ahead with the second edition.

In his speech, the Events and Promotions Manager of Adom FM, Frankie Odoom said they saw the huge success of the event as a catalyst to consolidate this event and improve on it.”

He reiterated the station’s commitment to making the GGIA an annual event with credibility “We are instituting a national, annual award that will stand the test of time.”

He also spoke of the rigorous process that had taken place before categories and nominees were arrived at and stressed that “only excellence will be rewarded in this year’s edition and subsequent editions.”

A select group of music and entertainment experts such as Bessa Simons, Carlos Sakyi, Mark Okraku Mantey, Rev Thomas Yawson, Rev Mary Ghansah, Prince Tsegah, Kwame Apau, Ernest Owusu and Kofi Appiah make up the Select Committee and Awards Academy.

They were given the onerous task of coming up with appropriate categories and who qualified to be a nominee in which category and from all indications, the team did an excellent job.

Chairman of the Academy, renowned musician Bessa Simons was also at the launch and assured that the problems associated with the previous edition would be a thing of the past.

He said, this year, they had gone to great lengths to make corrections on and seal a lot of loopholes especially with the definitions of the categories and the categories themselves and he was optimistic that there would be no mistakes this year.

He stated that problems notwithstanding, last year’s event was well done and left many patrons satisfied and assured that this year’s will be a far better event.

Nominees from 18 categories will be awarded this year; New Artiste of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Artiste of the Year (which is the highest), Popular Video of the Year, Alternative Gospel Song of the Year, Alternative Gospel Video of the Year, Collaboration of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Video of the Year, Record Label/Executive Producer of the Year, Gospel Producer of the Year, Best Gospel Song writer, Gospel Sound Engineer of the Year, Honorary Award of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award and African Gospel Artiste of the Year.

Just like last year, there would be categories which would be up for public voting while some will be reserved for the Academy.**