On 10th May 2025, the entire nation of Ghana was glued to their screens for the Telecel Ghana Music Awards, a celebration of Ghanaian musical excellence. As a sound engineer, what stood out most to me was the calibre of the live performances.
While the overall execution continues to improve, certain acts demonstrated a level of stagecraft that only comes with years of live performance experience.
The first act to truly electrify the venue was the legendary gospel group Daughters of Glorious Jesus. They captivated the audience with a medley of their timeless hits. One member even took to the drums, showcasing her musical versatility.
Their harmonies were flawless, their vocals sat beautifully atop the live instrumentation, and their vocal strength was undeniably impressive.
Another unforgettable moment was the tribute to gospel icon Yaw Sarpong. A trio took to the stage to honour him, and the standout was undoubtedly the female vocalist Mavis Asante , whose soaring voice commanded the entire auditorium during this performance.
Her emotive delivery left many in awe, her prowess is something worth noting. Her back up male singers which included Francis Amo, added a layer of harmonisation which garnished the performance.
Rounding off the evening’s standout moments was Maame Tiwaa, Yaw Sarpong’s long-time backing vocalist. As she accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award on his behalf, she expressed heartfelt gratitude to Ghanaians. But it was her spontaneous vocal performance that stole the spotlight.
Her voice, rich and powerful, surprised many and sealed the night as one to remember, social media platforms like X was buzzing with posts about her rich and authentic vocals which did not struggle to sit on the instrumentation.
These performances stamped on the value of consistent live practice in achieving vocal excellence and stage presence.
