The 2019 edition of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) ended without an announcement of the winner of the most coveted award -Artiste of the Year – due to a fracas between the camps of Shatta Wale and his archrival, Stonebwoy.
One other award was also withheld as the host of the event, Kwami Sefa Kayi announced that the winners of the two awards would be announced at a later date.
Nonetheless, top musicians including Stonebwoy, Shatta Wale, Kuami Eugene, Kwesi Arthur and Diana Hamilton, were all crowned at the event held on Saturday, 18 May 2019 at a new Dome at the Accra International Conference Centre.
The event became chaotic when Shatta Wale and his fans approached the podium to, ostensibly congratulate Stonebwoy after he was announced Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year, but it degenerated into pushing and shoving by team members of the two artistes which resulted in Stonebwoy pulling a pistol on stage.
The awards continued after a long break due to the misunderstanding.
Below is the full list of winners:
INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR: MR. OKYERE.
MOST TRADITIONAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR: KWAN PA.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: WINNER : MARY GHANSAH
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT: J.A ADOFO.
GOSPEL SONG OF THE YEAR : (Mo ne yo)DIANA HAMILTON
HIGHLIFE SONG OF THE YEAR – (LEVEL) SHATTA WALE
REGGAE/DANCEHALL SONG OF THE YEAR- GRINGO (SHATTA WALE)
HIPPOP SONG OF THE YEAR – (ANTHEM) KWESI ARTHUR
HIPLIFE SONG OF THE YEAR – (Obiaa wo ne Master) YAA PONO
AFRO POP SONG OF THE YEAR – (AKWAABA) Guilty Beatz
GOSPEL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR – DIANA HAMILTON
HIGHLIFE ARTISTE OF THE YEAR – KUAME EUGENE
HIPLIFE/HIP POP ARTISTE OF THE YEAR – MEDIKAL
REGGAE/DANCEHALL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR – STONEBWOY
BEST VIDEO OF THE YEAR – COME AND SEE MY MOTHER
SONG WRITER OF THE YEAR – STONEBWOY
RECORD OF THE YEAR – (Hye Me Bo) AKWABOAH
SONG WRITER OF THE YEAR – (CCTV) KING PROMISE
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR – THUNDER (KIDI)
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR – (HOLD ME DOWN) EFYA
AFRICAN ARTISTE OF THE YEAR – BURNA BOY
BEST RAPPER OF THE YEAR – MEDIKAL
BEST AFRICAN COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR – AKWAABA
BEST GROUP OF THE YEAR – BETHEL REVIVAL CHOIR
NEW ARTISTE OF THE YEAR – WENDY SHAY
ALBUM OF THE YEAR – (kuame Eugene) ROCK STAR
ARTISTE OF THE DECADE – SARKODIE
