Selina Boateng Wins Artiste of the Year at Ghana Gospel Industry Awards

Fast rising gospel music artiste, Selina Boateng, known for popular songs such as Minku Meho and Medofo Pa was crowned the Artiste of the Year at the second edition of the Ghana Gospel Industry Awards (GGIA) organized by Adom 106.3 FM. On a night when players in the gospel industry were honoured for distinguishing themselves in their chosen fields, it was Selina who stole the spotlight as she took home not only the night's biggest award, Artiste of the Year, but three others as well; Album of the Year, Song of the Year for her song Minku Meho and Popular Video of the Year. Although she had predicted before the final show that she would win several awards, Selina was visibly overwhelmed at her victory and could not say much when she was given the topmost award choosing instead to sing Medofo Pa for the audience who cheered her on anytime she went up the stage to take an award. Her awards seem to have capped what has been a wonderful 2011 and 2012 for the once backing vocalist whose album, Minku Me Ho, has seen her popularity soar. Even though the night belonged to Selina, she was almost upstaged by the lead singer of Soul Winners, Joe Mettle, who scooped three awards with his maiden album, Nhyira. His name may have been unfamiliar to quite a number of the people but for the many who knew him in the audience, it was all cheers and screams as he took home the Male Vocalist of the Year, Video of the Year and Best Gospel Songwriter awards. The two artistes were not the only ones who were celebrated for their excellence; Nacy (leader of No Tribe) took home the Gospel Producer of the Year and the Gospel Sound Engineer of the Year - he won the same award last year. Other award winners were Adehyemaa for New Artiste of the Year, Hans Bekx for Alternative Gospel Song of the Year and Alternative Gospel Video of the Year, DSP Kofi Sarpong and Celestine for Collaboration of the Year, Diana Hamilton for Female Vocalist of the Year. Ernest Kwesi Ennin of Media Excel Productions took home the Record Label/Executive Producer of the Year award while Uche of Double Double fame was crowned the African Gospel Artiste of the Year. Madam Joyce Aryee was given the Honorary Award of the Year and one of the pioneers and pillars of gospel music, Prof Kofi Abraham received the Lifetime Achievement Award.