Sarkodie Leads the Nominees for 2010 Ghana Music Awards, Controversy Already Brews

Nominations in all categories for the 2010 Ghana music awards have been announced.

Far ahead of the pack was English-language rapper Sarkodie, a fresh, fast-spitting voice in Ghana's innovative hiplife/hip-hop world. He lapped up eight nominations, including Artist of the Year, along with a ninth mention for his appearance with Ayigbe Edem and Kwaw Kesse on 'You dey Craze.' Ayigbe Edem, one of the first nationally prominent Ewe-language rapper, was not far behind, with six other nominations, including Hip Hop/Hiplife Artist of the Year and Discovery of the Year. Other standouts include Wutah, 4x4, and Bradez, all with five nominations.

The ceremony is already witnessing its first sniping cries of injustice. The local press has given an ear to 2008 Artist of the Year winner, rapper Kwaw Kesse, whose album 'Ma Kwan,' was dropped from the list of nominees. He blamed the Selection and Categorization Committee for the awards, insisting, "It is as if some of the people on the panel are my 'enemies' and they have gone on radio to talk shit about me." Perhaps more persuasive was his suggestion that the Commitee is mired in a conflict of interest, with members playing the dual role of judges and management for some of the nominees.

The Ghana Music Awards, now in its eleventh season, will be held April 10 in Accra. You can see the full list of nominees after the jump.

Artist of the year
4x4
Wutah
Ohemaa Mercy
Sarkodie
Becca
Bradez

Most popular song of the year
Kotosa by Wutah
Baby by Sarkodie
Simple by Bradez
Aseda by Ernest Opoku
World Trade Center by 4x4

Discovery of the year
DSP Kofi Sarpong
Mimi
Sarkodie
Ayigbe Edem
OJ Blaq

Hip hop /hiplife song of the year
Kasiebo by Obrafour
The Game by Obour
Ringtone by Tinny
You Dey Craze by Ayigbe Edem
Breathe by Kweku T & D Black
Baby by Sarkodie

Hip hop/hiplife artist of the year
Sarkodie
4x4
Bradez
Ayigbe Edem
Tinny

Gospel Song of the year
Ensie wo yie - Diana Hamilton
Okyeso Nyame - Florence Nyame
Aseda - Ernest Opoku
Wo Beye Kese - Ohemaa Mercy
Ayeyi Ndwom - DSP Kofi Sarpong
Supernatural - Celestine Donkor

Gospel Artist of the year
Ohema Mercy
Celestine Donkor
Florence Obinim

Highlife song of the year
Afia Donkor by Kofi B
Daa Ke Daa by Becca
Sika by Daddy Lumba
Kotosa by Wutah
Born to win by King David

Highlife artist of the year
Kofi B
Daddy Lumba
Kofi Nti
King David

Afro-pop Song of the year
Run away by Irene Logan
World Trade Center by 4x4
Swagger by Ruff &Smooth
Simple by Bradez
I think I like Am by VIP

Reggae Song of the year
Jah will be there by Wutah
Adiepena by Kojo Antwi
Mama Africa by Black Prophet

Best Collaboration of the year
Run Away by Irene & Asem
Baby by Sarkodie & Mugeez
The Game by Obour & Okyeame Kwame
You dey Craze by Edem/Sarkodie/Kwaw Kesse
Kasiebo by Obrafour & Guru

Best Rapper of the year
Sarkodie
Obrafour
Kwaku T
Edem
Bradez
Tinny

African artiste of the year
Bracket- Nigeria
Wande Coal- Nigeria
Flavour- Nigeria
Midnight Crew – Nigeria
Jozi- South Africa

Record of the year
Burning Desire- Wutah
Daa Ke Daa- Becca
Run Away – Irene Logan and Asem
Love Zone- Jon Germain
Nyonorvidade – Ayigbe Edem

Album of the Year
Sika – Daddy Lumba
Makye- Sarkodie
Burning desire- Wutah
World Trade Center- 4x4
Volta Regime- Ayigbe Edem

Song writer of the year
Daa ke Daa- Kwabena Akwaboa Jnr
Burning Desire- Wutah
Run Away- Asem
Adiepena- Kojo Antwi
Kasiebo- Obrafour

Best Male Vocal performance
PV of Wutah
Kwaisey Pee
Kofi B
Ernest Opoku Jnr
Kojo Antwi

Best Female Vocal Performance
Becca
Irene Logan
Cynthia of Daughter of Glorious Jesus
Celestine Donkor
Ohemaa Mercy