The Board of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards has introduced a new “Swing Period” policy aimed at ensuring songs released late in the year are not disadvantaged during the awards selection process.
The policy, which has been implemented for the 27th edition of the awards, allows songs released in December to be considered in the following awards year if they meet specific eligibility requirements.
According to the TGMA Board, the decision comes after three years of consultations with key industry stakeholders, as part of efforts to ensure fairness and reflect the evolving nature of Ghana’s music industry.
To qualify under the policy, a song must:
• Be released in December of the eligibility year
• Show measurable impact within the year under review
• Not have been nominated in the previous edition of the awards
As a result of the new policy, two songs have already secured nominations in the 27th TGMA.
These include Messiah by Sarkodie featuring Kweku Flick, and Excellent by Kojo Blak featuring Kelvyn Boy.
Both songs gained strong audience engagement and traction after their release, demonstrating the type of scenario the Swing Period policy was designed to address.
The TGMA Board believes the initiative will help strengthen the awards’ mission of recognizing excellence and celebrating the full impact of Ghanaian music, while adapting to changes in music release patterns, digital consumption trends, and global audience dynamics.
