TGMA 2025: ‘I was very disappointed’ – Kinaata over ‘Record of the Year’ snub

Multiple award-winning musician, Kofi Kinaata, has questioned the credibility of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) board after his song, “Auntie Ama,” lost out on the Record of the Year category.

The 2025 TGMA, held on May 10, saw Ghanaian musician Emmanuel Kwadwo Oware, popularly known as Ayisi, winning Record of the Year for his inspirational song, “Can I Live?”

In an interview with Feeling Daddy on StarrShowbiz on Starr FM on Saturday, July 5, 2025, Kinaata expressed disappointment that his effort to revive ancient highlife was not recognised.

“I was very, very disappointed. For a title like Record of the Year, if you listen to my song ‘Ama,’ you will realise it’s not the usual modern highlife song. It is an ancient style of highlife that I’m trying to revive. They should have seen I was trying to preserve something important from our past,” he said.

According to him, the TGMA board cannot claim to support cultural preservation while ignoring songs that reflect Ghana’s heritage.

“You cannot claim to desire preservation when what is being preserved doesn’t interest you. You say you want the youth to make good and meaningful songs, but you keep playing the bad ones that tells them to rather produce what you play.”

Despite his disappointment, Kinaata clarified that he did not believe Ayisi was undeserving of the award.

“I wouldn’t say the person who won it didn’t deserve it. But sometimes, certain things just need to be recognised.”

Other nominees for the Record of the Year category included Okyena by Asem Berima Amo ft. Pat Thomas, Fallen Angel by Smallgod ft. Black Sherif, Holy Ghost by Kweku Smoke, and Fakye Me by Kwabena Kwabena ft. Obaapa Christy.