The much-anticipated Ghana Movie Awards made a grand return on Saturday, January 18, 2025, after a hiatus of several years. The prestigious event took place at the iconic Accra International Conference Centre, drawing a star-studded crowd eager to celebrate the best of Ghanaian cinema. The night was filled with glitz, glamour, and heartfelt moments as the winners were announced.
A Night of Honors
The ceremony kicked off with a dazzling display of cinematographic excellence, with Bamie Lammeh clinching the award for Achievement in Cinematography for the film Pawn. Juliet Ibrahim took home the accolade for Achievement in Directing for her work on Widow’s Gift, marking a significant moment in her career.
In the category of Achievement in Editing, Afra Marley was recognized for A Taste of Sin, while Kwame Amoako’s impressive work in A Country Called Ghana earned him the Achievement in Costume and Wardrobe award. The Achievement in Make-up and Hairstyling went to Justice Osei for the film Big Six.
Music played a crucial role in this year’s awards, with Berni Anti winning Music Original Score for A Taste of Sin and Radiya Sinare securing Music Original Song for Kadara. The Production Design award was presented to Issifu Ania Quena for A Country Called Ghana, while Richie Mensah garnered the award for Achievement in Sound Mixing and Editing for Pawn.
Writing and Short Films Shine
In a fiercely contested category, Pascal Amanfo won Achievement in Writing Original or Adapted Screenplay for Red Carpet. The Best Short Movies category resulted in a tie, with Afoley by Nii Odai Afotey and Aahi by Nana Kofi Asihene sharing the honors. The Best Documentary was awarded to The Nexus Between Climate Induced.
Celebrating Performances and Collaborations
The award for Best Actor African Collaboration went to Gideon Okeke for his role in Tokunbo, while Adaobi Diborwas named Best Actress African Collaboration for her performance in Blood Vessel. Tokunbo also won Best Movie African Collaboration, with Ramsey Nouah at the helm.
A Taste of Sin, produced by Samira Yakubu and Dominion TV, was crowned Best Picture, a testament to its outstanding storytelling and production quality. The Cameo Actor of the Year award was a special moment, with Archbishop Nicholas Duncan William receiving recognition for his role in A Taste of Sin.
The Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role category saw a tie between James Gardiner for Taste of Sin and Adjetey Annan for Pawn. Jackie Appiah’s captivating performance in Red Carpet earned her Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role. John Dumelo was recognized for his supporting role in Blood Vessel, while the Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role was a three-way tie among Roselyn Ngiza, Sandra Ababio, and Christabel Ekeh for Red Carpet.
Emerging Talent and Audience Favorites
The Discovery of the Year award also saw a tie, with Ros Emond Brown (Akuapim Poloo) for Quesh and A Country Called Ghana sharing the spotlight. Clemento Ashiteye (Suarez) was named Favorite Movie Actor of the Year, while Nana Ama McBrown continued her reign as Favorite Movie Actress of the Year.
Influencers and Media Excellence
Deaconess Abokomah was celebrated as TikTok Influencer of the Year, and Zionfelix was honored as Blogger of the Year. The Best Supporting Actor in Drama/Comedy Series award went to Ato Dadzie for his role in Barrister Eva Amekudzi – Kejetia vs Makola.
Outstanding Television Shows
Television also had its moment, with McBrown’s Kitchen on ONUA/TV3 winning Outstanding Reality Cooking Show. United Showbiz/Real News [Akrobeto] on UTV was awarded Outstanding Show of the Year, and Showtime with Nana Ama McBrown on ONUA TV took home Outstanding Variety Talk Show.
In the acting categories for television, Nana Ama Ampofoa (Ariana) from YOLO S7 was named Lead Actress Drama or Comedy, and Barrister Ignatious Bemenegya (Ngo) from Kejetia vs Makola was recognized as Lead Actor Drama or Comedy. Aba Kuma Dadson from YOLO S7 won *Best Supporting Actress Drama or Comedy.
A Celebration of Ghanaian Cinema
The 2024 Ghana Movie Awards was a resounding success, highlighting the talent and creativity within the Ghanaian film industry. The return of this esteemed event not only celebrated the achievements of the past year but also set the stage for an even brighter future in Ghanaian cinema.