The management team for Ghanaian rapper ArafatJay has formally petitioned the board of the 2026 Telecel Ghana Music Awards, expressing concern over the omission of several key nominations.
In a letter addressed to the awards committee, ArafatJay’s representatives said they were disappointed that the artiste was left out of major categories despite his significant contributions and commercial success during the eligibility period. They argued that the absence of nominations in important categories did not reflect the impact of his work on the Ghanaian music scene.
According to the team, ArafatJay’s music generated substantial streaming numbers and strong radio presence, and they believe that this level of performance should have merited consideration for awards such as Song of the Year and Best Rap Performance.
The letter also requested clarification on the nomination process and criteria, urging the board to offer transparency on how decisions were made. The management team stressed that understanding the evaluation standards would help artistes and industry stakeholders better navigate future award cycles.
Representatives for ArafatJay maintained that their petition is not a critique of the awards themselves but a call for fairness and consistency in recognising artistic achievements across all genres.
The development follows reactions from fans and industry observers who have debated the nominations list on social media, with some supporters echoing ArafatJay’s concerns and others suggesting that the awards committee follow established eligibility rules.
The Telecel Ghana Music Awards are intended to celebrate musical excellence in Ghana, and the board has previously stated that nominations are determined by panels of professionals who evaluate submissions based on artistic merit, commercial success and technical quality.
ArafatJay’s team said it hopes the petition will prompt constructive dialogue and encourage ongoing improvements to the awards process, including clearer communication of nomination policies.
As the awards ceremony approaches, attention remains on how music industry stakeholders will engage with the board’s decisions and future outcomes.
