Is the TGMA stifling female talent?

This year's ceremony, held on June 1 at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), demonstrated how uncompetitive our female artists appear to have gotten in the awards scheme.

Despite multiple nominations in various categories, no female artist won an award in a category that included both male and female contestants at the 2024 edition.

Queendalyn Yurglee, a gospel singer, was the only female musician to win an award at the event, and it was for Best Female Vocal Performer.

That was a dramatic contrast to the 2023 ceremony, where Piesie Esther and Gyakie received three awards. The 2024 situation clearly indicates a dangerous trend.

It has been stated that the absence of female representation on the awards committee raises concerns about bias and gender inequity.

The lack of female winners in categories traditionally selected by board and academy voting is pretty striking.

The few female winners, such as Ebony Reigns and Diana Hamilton, who received the coveted Artiste of the Year award in 2018 and 2021, are exceptions rather than the rule.

The drop in female representation on the 2023 and 2024 honors lists serves as a wake-up call for the industry to overcome the gender gap.

The GMA board's membership and voting processes must be reconsidered to ensure justice and equitable representation.

Female artists must likewise improve their game, but the industry must ensure a level playing field. The 2025 edition will be a litmus test for the industry's efforts to remedy this imbalance.