Last year, I was convinced that the big contenders for the 2016 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards could be Bisa Kdei, Sarkodie, Stonewboy, Gasmilla, VVIP and others. But after the nominations were announced last night at the Kempinski Hotel, EL came out tops garnering 10 nods including Producer of The Year from the VMGA Board. Sarkodie got 7 nominations for his own works and 3 others for featuring on other songs, Mzvee also got 7 nominations, while VVIP also grabbed 6 nods. 

Stonebwoy got 5 nominations for his own works and an extra nod for his collaboration with Jupitar. While Bisa got 6 nominations for himself  including Producer Of the Year, as well as 2 nominations for featuring on other records. Kofi Kinata got 4 nominations for himself and  2 others for featuring on Donzy’s ‘Crusade’. Pappykojo also had 4 nominations plus 1 extra for featuring on EL’s ‘All Black’.

Gasmilla did not receive any nominations. It is not clear if he submitted his works or if he was ruled out by the VGMA board.  Check out the full list of nominations:

Artiste Of The Year

VVIP

Sarkodie

Bisa KDei

Stonebwoy

SP Kofi Sarpong

EL

Vodafone Most Popular Song Of The Year

Skolom – VVIP featuring Sena Dagadu

Mansa – Bisa Kdei

Aporsor – Nicholas Omane Acheampong

Go Higher – Stonebowy

Ekikime – Wisa featuring Luther

Mi naa bop o – EL

Susuka – Kofi Kinaata

Album Of The Year

Verified – MzVee

Mary – Sarkodie

Elom – EL

Breakthrough – Bisa KDei

I Believe – SP Kofir Sarpong

Highlife Artiste Of The Year

Bisa Kdei

Afriyie

Ofori Amponsah

Nero X

Afro-pop Song Of The Year

Fuse ODG – Only

R2bees – Gboza featuring Davido

Edem – Nyedzilo featuring Reekado Banks

MzVee – Abofra featuring Efya

Adina – Coastal Vibes featuring Trigmatic

E.L – Mi Naa Bo Po

Reggae/Dancehall Artiste Of The Year

Stonebwoy

Jupitar

MzVee

AK Songstress

Episode

Blakk Rasta

Hip-life/Hip-Hop Artiste Of The Year

Pappy Kojo

Omar Sterling

Sarkodie

VVIP

Guru

E.L

Best Collaboration Of The Year

VVIP – Skolom featuring Sena Dagadu

Sarkodie – Mewu featuring Akwaboah

Pappy Kojo – Ay3 Late featuring Sarkodie

Wisa – Ekikime featuring Luther

Donzy – The Crusade featuring Kofi Kinaata

Obrafour – Pimpinaa featuring Bisa Kdei 

Record Of The Year

Adina – Coastal Vibes featuring Trigmatic

MzVee – Abofra featuring Efya

R2bees – Concert Party

Sarkodie – Bra featuring Pat Thomas

Yaa Yaa – Dumb Drum

Rocky Dawuni – Shine Light

M.anifest – Forget Dem

Hip-life Song Of The Year

Donzy – The Crusade featuring Kofi Kinaata

Atom – Ye Wo Krom

E.L – Koko

Wisa – Ekiki Me featuring Luther

VVIP – Skolom featuring Sena Dagadu

Guru – Pooley Swag

Highlife Song Of The Year

Aka Blay – Take Away featuring Cabum

Becca – Hwe

Bisa Kdei – Mansa

Obrafour – Pimpinaa featuring Bisa Kdei

R2Bees – Makoma

Kofi Kinaata – Susuka

Ofori Amponsah – Alewa featuring Sarkodie

Reggae/Dancehall Song Of The Year

Blakk Rasta – Serwaa Akoto

De Voice – It’s So Crazy

MzVee – Hold Me Now

Stonebwoy – Go Higher

AK Songstress – Holiday

Jupitar – Fire featuring Stonebwoy

Best Male Vocal Performance

Afriyie – Go Gaga

De Voice – It’s Crazy

Knii Lante – Thinking Out Loud

Pat Thomas – Bra (by Sarkodie)

Mugeez – Concert Party (With Omar Sterling)

Akwaboah Jnr. – Mewu (by Sarkodie)

Best Female Vocal Performance

Adina – Boom Boom Beat

Irene Logan – Me Do Wo

MzVee – Hold Me Now

Nana Yaa – E Go Be

Efya – SarkCess Story

Yaa Yaa – Dumb Drum

Hip-Hop Song Of The Year

E.L – All Black feat. Joey B & Pappy Kojo

Flowking Stone – Fire Bon Them

Kwaw Kese – Yakubu

Omar Sterling – Ninety Ninety

Pappy Kojo – Ay3 Late feat. Sarkodie

Best Rapper Of The Year

E.L – King Without A Crown

Flowking Stone – Fire Bon Dem

Omar Sterling – Nineteen Ninety

Pappy Kojo – Ay3 Late

Sarkodie – Hand To Mouth

Best Music Video Of The Year

E.L – Shelele

Obrafour – Nkontompo

Yaa Yaa – Dumb Drum

Edem – Girlfriend

Teephlow – The Warning

Preachers – Crazy For God

Best Group Of The Year

VVIP

R2Bees

Keche

Galaxy

Preachers

Producer Of The Year

Mo Beat – Skolom

Bisa Kdei/Kaywa – Mansa

Kwadwo Akwaboah – Aporsor

Beatz Dakay – Go Higher

Chapter Beatz – Ekikime

E.L – Mi Naa Bo Po

Dr. Ray – Ye Wo Krom

Kin Dee – Susuka

Best New Artiste Of The Year

Nero X

Kofi Kinaata

Donzy

Wisa

Atom

Unsung Artiste

Nii Funny

Wan O

Feli Nuna

Perez

Adomaa

Ebony Reigns

Gospel Song Of The Year

SP Kofi Sarpong – Hour By Hour featuring Joyce Blessing

Kofi Gyan – Yoboyo

Mary Owusu – W’ow Nkwa Wo Wor Ade

Obaapa Christy – Hyebre Sesafo

Patience Nyarko – Wafom Kwan

Nicholas Omane Acheapong

Gospel Artiste Of The Year

Obaapa Christy

Nicholas Omane Achemapong

Joe Mettle

SP Kofi Sarpong

Patience Nyarko

Preachers

Songwriter Of The Year

Rex Omar – Paapa

Knii Lante – Beautiful Virgo

Kofi Kinaata – Susuka

MzVee, Richie & Efya – Abofra

Obrafour – Nkontompo

Stonebwoy – Go Higher

African Artiste Of The Year

Olamide

Wizkid

Korede Bello

Harrysong