‘Makoma’: Paluta’s megahit ‘breaches no moral or ethical requirement’ – Singer’s mngt ‘humbly’ presses TGMAs board for song’s 2025 nom

Music star King Paluta’s management has registered its disapproval of the 26th edition of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMAs) ignoring the singer and rapper’s ginormous 2024 hit Makoma.

According to a March 18, 2025, statement signed by Paluta’s management, they wrote to the TGMAs Board to consider the Burger Highlife piece for four categories, Most Popular Song, Record of the Year, Hiplife Song of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year, since “we believe [it] remains Ghana’s most popular song released [for] the year under review, generating the most excitement amongst music lovers till date!”




In 2016, Bisa Kdei’s Brother Brother, a megahit, was snubbed by the awards scheme, Ghana’s topmost in music, for the use of the word ‘fu—ing’ in the opening part of the song. The singer’s Mansa was the only song considered for the awards show.

Recently, former Deputy Tourism, Creative Arts & Culture Minister and iconic music and executive producer Mark Okraku Mantey argued Paluta’s Makoma was lyrically profane, rebuking the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for using it during its 2024 election campaign. The controversy was over a portion of the song where Paluta sings ‘look’ in Akan Twi in a way which suggests the Akan word for a woman’s intimate parts.




To such concerns, Paluta’s management wrote, “We are confident that “Makoma” breaches no moral or ethical requirement of the board and will be ready to engage for possible consideration of the song in the categories submitted for earlier!”




They emphasised the need for “a convincing reason [to] be issued to our team, music enthusiasts and general public on this unpopular decision of the board,” noting their confidence “in the competence of the TGMA board”.

See the letter addressed to the TGMAs Board below:

Reminiscent of Bisa Kdei’s fate, Paluta’s other megahit Aseda was included in the nominations for the TGMAs 2025 programme.