TGMA 2025: Gospel Acts Lag Behind in Artiste of the Year Campaigns as Table of Men Remains Silent
As the excitement builds towards the 2025 Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMAs) the race for Artiste of the Year (AOTY) is heating up—with names like King Promise, Stonebwoy and King Paluta dominating conversations and campaign spaces. However, gospel nominees in the category Team Eternity Ghana and Joe Mettle seem to be missing in the promotional buzz that has come to characterize the final stretch of Ghana’s most prestigious music award scheme.
This surprising silence from the gospel front has led to growing concerns from fans and industry observers, many of whom are questioning the absence of vocal support from Table of Men (TOM)—a well-known gospel music advocacy group that has historically championed gospel artistes for major awards.
But according to Kwasi Ernest, CEO of Media Excel and a key member of Table of Men, the group cannot be blamed for the lack of campaign activity. In an interview with Graphic Showbiz on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, he clarified that TOM is not a public relations outfit for gospel artistes and only steps in when officially approached by artistes or their teams.
Table of Men is not biased. People have to understand that the group isn’t a PR machine for any gospel artiste. It’s only proper for any artiste who got nominations to instruct their team to lead the campaign, he said.
“However, if they feel Table of Men have any influence and campaigning for them will strengthen their chances of winning, why not? We are ready to help because we stand for the promotion and well-being of the gospel music industry.”
The gospel music community has seen notable successes in the past at the TGMAs. In 2017, Joe Mettle made history as the first gospel artiste to win Artiste of the Year—thanks largely to a widespread campaign led by TOM. This milestone was repeated in 2021 when Diana Hamilton clinched the title. However, a spirited campaign for Piesie Esther in 2023 ultimately fell short, with Black Sherif taking home the top honor.
This year, with Team Eternity Ghana’s breakout success and Joe Mettle’s consistent performance, fans were expecting a repeat of the full-throttle campaigns of previous years. But so far, the gospel acts appear to be operating quietly—with little visible momentum behind their AOTY bids.
When asked whether public criticism of TOM’s perceived favoritism in past campaigns might have contributed to their current low profile, Kwasi Ernest revealed the group is on a temporary recess, focusing instead on building long-term strategies for the gospel industry.
“At the moment, we are on break from advocacy works and looking at initiatives to boost the industry. This includes artistic trainings, vocal seminars, distribution services, marketing, and promotion among others.”
While TOM’s efforts in previous years have helped elevate the visibility of gospel music at national award schemes, some critics argue that the group selectively supports certain artistes. This perception, however, is strongly disputed by Ernest, who insists TOM remains committed to the overall growth of gospel music in Ghana.
With the TGMAs drawing closer, the pressure is now on Team Eternity Ghana and Joe Mettle—and their respective teams—to step up their campaigns if they are to compete with the mainstream heavyweights for the coveted Artiste of the Year crown.
Whether TOM will eventually step in to boost the gospel nominees’ chances remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: fans are watching and waiting.