Ghanaian gospel artiste, Joe Mettle, has opened up about his absence from this year’s Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA), explaining that his decision to step back is intentional and personal.
Speaking on Starr Chat with Bola Ray on Starr 103.5FM, the award-winning musician recounted his last experience at the previous edition of the awards night, describing a ticketing challenge that once prevented him from fully participating in the ceremony.
According to him, a technical issue during the event resulted in confusion over his entry tickets, with all allocated passes reportedly marked as used while he was still outside the venue.
“I had like four or five tickets, and they were telling me all my tickets were used. And I’m like, by who? My team was with me, so I don’t know who used the ticket,” he said.
Joe Mettle explained that while efforts were being made to resolve the issue, he was unexpectedly informed that he had already won an award, even though he was still outside the venue.
“Somebody passed and said congratulations. I said, for what?” he recounted, adding that his manager eventually had to receive the award on his behalf while he remained outside.
He further narrated that after eventually gaining access to the venue, another moment of confusion occurred when he briefly stepped away, only to later learn that another award announcement had been made during his absence.
Despite the incidents, Joe Mettle said he does not believe the situation was intentional, describing it as a “genuine coincidence.”
Addressing questions about his absence from the TGMA 2026 nominations and broader participation in awards events, the gospel artiste said he is currently prioritising a quieter phase in his life and ministry.
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“I just feel like I’m in a place in my life where I need a bit of quietness to focus on certain things. I believe God is leading me to do so,” he said.
He added that stepping back from such platforms does not reflect disengagement from the gospel music industry, stressing that many other artistes are capable of carrying the genre forward.
“I believe there’s so much of us that can do what I get to do. I’m just one person,” he noted.
Joe Mettle also addressed perceptions that his decisions may be linked to dissatisfaction with awards processes, clarifying that his focus is not on criticism but on personal growth and reduced distractions.
“I’m not downplaying or saying anything bad about awards. I’m just saying at this time, I want to take a backseat for now,” he stated.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
