The award-winning FRA! band has taken issue with the omission of the Group of the Year from the list of categories for the 2025 Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMAs).

The band’s composer and drummer Joshua ‘Virgen’ Boateng (JVB) spoke exclusively to Class News’ Prince Benjamin (PB), advocating the “reinstatement” of the category.

“Group of the Year… I think that the year it was rested was because it was no longer competitive hence no category for it. We are not saying it had been scrapped off, but we are resting it until such a time we feel we have enough numbers in the space to compete for it. It is supposed to be competitive,” Robert Klah, the Head of Communications for Charterhouse, organisers of the TGMA, said on Hitz FM in 2024.

The category was rested in 2022.

In the past, groups such as VVIP (2017), Wutah (2018), Bethel Revival Choir (2019), DopeNation (2020), Keche (2021), and more have won in a category which was one of the most exciting for the ceremony.

JVB said, “The Telecel Music Awards has always been a platform that recognises excellence in Ghana’s music industry. We strongly advocate for the reinstatement of the Group of the Year category.”

“There are several active and deserving music groups making a significant impact, contributing to the industry’s growth and shaping Ghana’s sound. Recognising us is essential in promoting unity, collaboration, and the diversity that defines our music scene,” he explained.

In JVB’s view, the competitiveness the TGMAs desired to see before reinstating the category was being hampered by the resting of the category.

“Bringing back this category will ensure that talented groups receive the acknowledgment they deserve, further motivating them to create and inspire. We believe the time is right to celebrate not just individual artists but also the collective efforts that make Ghanaian music truly outstanding,” the FRA! executive said.

FRA! is a powerhouse at the forefront of reviving Ghana’s iconic band culture. The group is famous for hits like You Dey Feel the Vibe, Amen, and Happy Yourself, among others.