The 24th edition’s New Artiste of the Year submission for Jay Bahd has been withdrawn by the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards Board. This was after the Organizers of the award scheme have heeded the petition of Ghanaians over the inclusion of popular Asakaa group member, Jay Bahd, in the Best New Artiste category of this year’s edition.
After the nominees were first announced, a sizable portion of internet users took to social media to complain that the “Anadwo” hitmaker was “too-big” or has been in existence for a long while, to be shortlisted into that specific category.
Not only was a public petition that brought the withdrawal, but it was also as a result of a petition made by broadcaster and VGMA Academy member Austine Woode on Joy FM’s Twitter Spaces two weeks ago. According to the academy member Austin, in an interview on Joy FM’s Entertainment Unpacked show, Jay Bahd had gotten a nomination in the Best Collaboration of the Year in 2021 together with Yaw Tog on the collaborative work, ‘Sore’, hence he was not new to the scheme.
So in that regard, the VGMA’s board have issued a statement outlining the required changes to the nominees’ list and their choice to exclude Jay Bhad from that category.
“After deliberations, the board agrees that Jay Bhad is not new to the scheme because of his shared nomination on Yaw Tog’s sore for ‘Collaboration of the Year’ in 2021. This means he is not eligible as nominee for the New Best Artiste of the Year category of the 24th Vodaphone Ghana Music Awards,” parts of the statement read
The statement added, there’s no bad blood between the award scheme and the Artiste in person, saying his team has been duly informed on the developing arrangements.
“The error has been corrected, and Jay Bahd and his team have been informed accordingly. The inconvenience is deeply regretted,” the statement reads.
Malcom Nuna, Djay, Lasmid, DJ Azonto, Chief One, and Ewura Abena were the other nominees in that field, joining formerly Jay Bahd as best new artists.
The 24th Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, considered the biggest celebration of Ghanaian music, is scheduled for May 6, 2023. The Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Center will host the event.
Read VGMA’s Press Release below:
