Northern Music Takes Centre Stage

Organisers of the Ghana Northern Music Awards have announced the maiden edition of the award scheme, scheduled for February 7 at the UDS Tamale Campus Multi-Purpose Auditorium, with the aim of reviving and strengthening the music industry across Ghana’s five northern regions.

Speaking on Culture Daily on 3Music TV, representatives of the awards scheme revealed that the event will feature 31 competitive categories, bringing together artistes from the Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Savannah and North East regions.

According to the organisers, preparations for the awards began months ago, with a dedicated production team, structured nomination processes and ongoing engagement with artistes and industry stakeholders to ensure a successful debut.

The awards scheme, they explained, was introduced to address a long-standing gap in the northern music industry, which has lacked a major, consistent award platform since 2016. Organisers believe the absence of such recognition slowed competition and visibility for artistes in the region.

The headline award, Ghana Northern Music Artiste of the Year, will be contested by seven artistes drawn from all five northern regions. Nominees were selected based on commercial performance, public appeal, hit releases and social media presence within the year under review.

The event will also feature live performances from leading northern artistes, including Fancy Gadam, Maccasio and representatives from each of the five regions, alongside veteran musicians Ahmed Adam and Kawastan, adding historical depth to the celebration.

Ticket prices have been pegged at GH₵100 for regular seating and GH₵250 for VIP, with organisers emphasising a fully seated and well-coordinated audience experience.

With corporate sponsors gradually coming on board, organisers say the long-term vision is to grow the awards into a nationally and internationally recognised platform that projects northern music beyond regional borders.