Gospel Musician Celestine Donkor believes the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) board is doing a great disservice to new and up and coming songwriters.

According to her, in the past few years, the 'Songwriter of the Year' category has been flooded with the same names in the industry with little to no shine given to others.

Speaking on Daybreak Hitz on Hitz FM, Celestine Donkor said the board failed to explore explaining that if they had done broad consultation they would have found some of the songwriters who may be even better than the nominees.

“We have people like Kinaata, Akawaboa and co, the category is fixated on them. It [the board] is not giving a chance for people who are coming up probably stronger than those names to be given a hearing. I am 100% sure that for this year’s songwriters category that some songs were not giving a proper listening.”

This comes after some section of the public expressed displeasure about some selections in the 2022 VGMA nominations list.

For the 2022 Songwriter of the Year VGMA nominations, six musicians namely Minister OJ, Fameye, Abiana, Kofi Kinaata, Akwaboah and Diana Hamilton were selected.

In 2021 three of the musicians nominated in this year’s category namely Diana Hamilton, Kofi Kinaata (winner) and Abiana secured nominations. Others were Epixode, Joe Mettle and Adina.

In 2020 Kofi Kinaata, Diana Hamilton and Epixode landed nominations in the Song of the Year category. Others were Akwaboah, Lamisi and King Promise.

Also, Kofi Kinaata is the only artistes to have won the award four times.

Meanwhile, Celestine Donkor said the VGMA board can do better.

She stated that the award scheme had similar issues in years past when it came to the female Vocalist of the Year award. 

She explained that the award was given to the likes of Efya and Becca numerous times giving barely a handful of other singers the chance.

“There was a concern that ‘are there no more female vocalists in Ghana?’ Until they started listening to the new ones and giving them a chance in that category, it was like that. I think the same thing is happening with the songwriter's category.”

Celestine Donkor explained that it was essential the board explores beyond the few popular acts to give others an opportunity to shine.