The management of popular Ghanaian Afrobeats artiste Lasmid has formally petitioned the Telecel Ghana Music Awards board, requesting a review of the Best Afrobeats Artiste category.

According to his team, Lasmid was left off the nominee list despite what they describe as one of the most impactful years by any Ghanaian act in 2025.

In a detailed letter dated March 15, 2026, and sighted by GhanaWeb on March 18, Lasmid's management, operating under NE Records, laid their case, citing streaming figures, chart performance, social media dominance, major collaborations, and a Guinness World Record.

The Numbers

According to the petition, Lasmid garnered over 111 million total Spotify streams, including 81 million as lead artiste, across major hits such as Olivia, Friday Night, Ghana Jollof, and Meet 4 Corner.

On Audiomack, Olivia alone racked up 19 million plays, 106,000 likes, and 138,000 playlist adds. His 2025 single Weekend Vibes hit one million combined streams in just four days across Boomplay and Audiomack.

“These streaming figures affirm Lasmid's digital footprint as one of Ghana's top Afrobeats performers in 2025,” the petition read.

The petition further noted that songs associated with Lasmid, such as ‘Olivia’, ‘Meet 4 Corner’, and ‘No Issues’, generated over 100,000 user-created videos across TikTok and Instagram Reels.

“Tracks such as Olivia, Meet 4 Corner, and No Issues have fuelled viral trends and short-form content challenges, contributing to increased streams and platform engagement throughout the year.

"Lasmid's output in 2025 has not only driven streaming but also amplified fan participation on social media, a key metric for contemporary Afrobeats relevance,” the petition added.

The Collaborations

According to the petition, beyond solo output, Lasmid's 2025 was defined by a string of high-profile collaborations.

His joint project Sweet Songs For You with Nigerian artiste TML Vibez produced standout cross-border hits, while his feature on Sarkodie's Lavida Loca was widely praised as one of the season's strongest cross-genre records.

“These contributions are clear markers of his creative influence across Ghana's music network,” the petition explained.

The Guinness Record

Lasmid's participation in Trench Symphony: The Dapper Live Experience, officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the Largest Orchestra for an Afrobeats Concert in history, was also emphasised by his management.

They pointed out that no other Ghanaian Afrobeats artiste in 2025 can claim that level of genre innovation and international recognition.

“This milestone represents a global live music achievement, a demonstration of Afrobeats on a new artistic scale, and Lasmid's participation in a world record performance context.

“No other Ghanaian Afrobeats artiste in 2025 can claim this level of genre innovation and international recognition,” the petition read.

The Ask

The management was careful to frame the petition as a request for transparency rather than a demand for change.

“In light of the achievements outlined above, we respectfully request that the Nomination Board of the Telecel Ghana Music Awards revisit and review the Best Afrobeats Artiste category to ensure that the nominations accurately reflect measurable contributions within the year under review.

“This request is made with respect for the integrity of the awards scheme and in the interest of ensuring that excellence within Ghana's Afrobeats community is fully represented,” it stated.

The petition adds to a growing wave of scrutiny surrounding this year's TGMA nominations, with AratheJay's team having also filed a separate review request over exclusions in other categories. Charterhouse is yet to publicly respond to either petition.

The awards ceremony is scheduled for May 9, 2026.

ID/BAI

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