The 7th edition of the Ghana Arts and Entertainment Awards has concluded with a colourful celebration of Ghanaian talent, creativity and excellence, bringing together personalities from across the country’s entertainment and creative industries.
Speaking to the organisers after the event, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Arts and Entertainment Awards, Cecilia Gyaase Konamah, described the 2026 edition as a memorable night that successfully celebrated the hard work and contributions of people within Ghana’s creative sector.
“This year’s Ghana Arts and Entertainment Awards was a beautiful celebration of talent, creativity and excellence,” she said. “We brought together amazing personalities from the entertainment industry to honour their hard work and contributions.”
According to Cecilia Gyaase Konamah, some of the major highlights of the event included the recognition of deserving personalities, exciting musical and dance performances, a vibrant red carpet and strong support from guests, sponsors and media partners.
She explained that the 2026 edition was designed to go beyond simply presenting awards, with greater emphasis placed on recognising the people working behind the growth of Ghana’s creative industry.
“What makes this year’s event different is the level of recognition, organisation and attention we gave to the people behind Ghana’s creative industry. We wanted it to be more than just an awards ceremony—it was a true celebration of talent, hard work and impact,” she said.
Competitive nominations and credible judging
The organisers described the nomination process for the 7th edition as one of the most competitive in the history of the awards.
Konamah said the strength of the nominees made the selection of winners challenging, but ultimately the recipients reflected excellence, consistency, hard work and impact in their respective fields.
She noted that the jury considered several factors, including talent, consistency, quality of work, impact, professionalism and achievements within the eligibility period.
“We also ensured that the judging process was handled objectively, with the jury assessing nominees based on the established criteria rather than personal relationships or popularity,” she said.
Awards and recognition
Among the notable winners at the 2026 Ghana Arts and Entertainment Awards were Jeneral Ntatia, who was named Man of the Year, and Mabel Okyere, who won Woman of the Year as well as Best Female Vocalist.
Other winners included Ellawan for Best Actress, Kwame Trigga for Best Actor, Linglow for Best Entrepreneur and S A Glamor for Best Makeup Artist.
The Baraka Ibrahim Foundation received the award for Best Humanitarian Project, while Adu Agyeman was recognised as Best Movie Director.
In television and radio, Kwame Appiah Kubi won Best TV Show Host – Male, while Abena Kyei Boakye won Best TV Show Host – Female. Abena Ahenken was named Best Radio Show Host – Female, with Nana Kwame Gyan taking the male category.
Other winners included Nurse Oye as Best TikTok Star, Obaapa Christy Ba as Discovery of the Year, Kro Leo as Diaspora Artist and Akwaaba Entertainment as Diaspora Event Organiser.
Quecyofficial was named Best Influencer, 1957 News won Best Blogger, while Oyerepa TV received the award for Best TV Station.
In other categories, Amoah Benson MTN was recognised as Best Cinematographer, Daakyehemaa won Best News Anchor – Female, Champion Kayafa took Best Male Vocalist, and Unity TV was named Discovery TV Station.
Honours and special recognition
The ceremony also honoured individuals who have made significant contributions to Ghana’s entertainment and creative space.
The honourees were Cecilia Marfo, Mr Samuel Owusu, Prophet Ogyaba and Kwesi Ernest.
Special awards were presented to Mr Daniel Yeboah and Roselyn Akosua Mantey.
Seven years of impact
Reflecting on the journey of the awards over the past seven years, Konamah said the initiative has helped provide visibility and recognition for talented people across Ghana’s creative industry.
She said the platform has allowed entertainers and other creative professionals to build credibility, gain exposure and potentially access new opportunities.
“Most importantly, we have encouraged young talents to believe in their abilities and strive for excellence,” she said.
Sponsor support
Konamah also acknowledged the contribution of the awards’ headline sponsor, Nana Otafregya Owusu Agyeman, whose support, she said, has been instrumental to the growth and sustainability of the initiative.
“His support has been extremely important to the growth and sustainability of the Ghana Arts and Entertainment Awards,” she said, adding that his continued belief in the vision of the awards had provided the organisers with the confidence and stability to keep improving the platform.
Challenges and the road ahead
Despite the successful event, the organisers faced several challenges during the planning and execution of the ceremony.
Konamah identified logistics, production, coordination of nominees and guests, and securing sponsorship as some of the major difficulties.
“One of our biggest challenges was coordinating the many aspects of the event, from logistics and production to getting nominees, sponsors and guests ready on time,” she explained.
She said teamwork, proper planning and constant communication helped the team overcome the challenges.
“Also, getting sponsors has not been easy, but we hope for a better future,” she added.
Looking beyond the awards ceremony itself, Konamah said the organisers want the Ghana Arts and Entertainment Awards to become a platform that contributes meaningfully to the development of the country’s creative economy.
“Our vision goes beyond the awards. We want to create more opportunities for creatives, support young talents, and provide platforms for people in the industry to grow and connect,” she said.
Bigger plans for the 8th edition
As preparations gradually look towards the 8th edition, the organisers say they are open to stronger partnerships and initiatives aimed at supporting emerging talents.
Konamah said the next edition is expected to be “bigger, more inclusive” and designed to create even more value for people working within Ghana’s creative industry.
She ended by thanking the winners, nominees, sponsors, industry stakeholders, fans and supporters who contributed to the success of the 2026 ceremony.
“To the winners and nominees, keep working hard and inspiring others. To our sponsors and industry stakeholders, thank you for believing in our vision. And to our fans and supporters, your love and encouragement mean so much to us,” she said.
“We are grateful, and we look forward to an even greater 8th edition.”
