Gospel sensation Joe Mettle, who was recently crowned Gospel Artiste of the Year at the 26th Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA), has revealed that he may soon step back from nominating himself for the prestigious awards scheme.
Speaking in an interview on TV3’s New Day on Friday, May 16, 2025, the ‘Onwanwani’ hitmaker explained that the decision is not rooted in pride or a sense of outgrowing the awards. Instead, it’s due to the increasing difficulty in fulfilling the demands that come with being a nominee.
“I think I do (have intentions to retire from the awards). I think for the past 3 or 4 years, I have wanted to take a seat back from the awards,” Joe shared. “And it is not because I think I have outgrown the awards, no, it is not that.”
He went on to explain that juggling the responsibilities that come with an award nomination, such as promotion and campaign efforts, can be overwhelming, especially with a packed schedule.
“There are things that the award requires that sometimes you are not able to do. Because once you are nominated, you need to push it, and sometimes a lot is happening,” he said. “There are seasons… and you realise that you cannot commit to the awards like you used to.”
Despite these thoughts, Joe Mettle had a triumphant night at the 26th TGMA, bagging two major awards: Gospel Artiste of the Year and Best Male Vocal Performance for his soul-stirring track “Obo Awan Oba.” This marks his third win in the Best Male Vocal Performance category, having previously won in 2015 and 2017.
Joe Mettle’s potential withdrawal from future nominations may come as a surprise to fans, but it also reflects his evolving priorities and the demands of a seasoned career in music
