IT was all fun and excitement when the MTN Ghana Music Awards train stopped at the Twin Cities of Sekondi-Takoradi on Saturday March 6, 2010. The people had more reasons than one to jam; in fact, they had three good reasons to celebrate.

The jam was in celebration if Ghana’s 53rd Independence and the Centenary Birthday celebration of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the illustrious son of the Region who championed the struggle for Ghana’s Independence from Great Britain in 1957. The third reason was that the Nominees of the 11th edition of the MTN GMA were in town to party hard.

There was not a dull moment on stage the whole time and the audience had their times worth although some of the artistes could not make it for one reason or another. The jam lacked nothing by way of excitement as those artistes that made it to the ensured Organisers must have been impressed with the audience that thronged the Takoradi Poly Park on Saturday. It certainly looked impressive on Television where most of those across the country who could not be at the park caught the performances live on GTV. Ohemaa Mercy’s opening act can be described simply as electrifying from beginning to the end.

It was a whirlwind performance that set a really high standards for all the other artistes that came afterwards. She was vivacious and took the crowd with her on a heavenly journey that set a tough standard but all the other artistes appeared prepared to compete. The lady deserves her nominations for Artiste of the Year, Gospel Artistes and Gospel Song of the Year for her song Wo Be Ye Kese.

Following closely on her heels was DSP Kofi Sarpong who reminded all anew why his song Ayeyi Ndwom was nominated for Gospel Song of the Year and himself for the Gospel Artistes and Discover of the Year categories respectively.

Also highlighting the jam for many was Eazzy Baby who completely took over the huge stage with ease. With renditions from her collaboration with Tinny’s Ringtone remix, her song Wengeze and Bo Wo Nsem Ma Me, Eazzy established herself as one of the promising female artistes. She is nominated in the Discovery of the Year category.

Other performances included Kofi B who was excellent with the Live Band performances. Kofi B is nominated for the Highlife Artistes and his song Afia Donkor was nominated for Highlife Song of the Year. Tema based R2Bees were exciting although one would have wished for a little more coordination on stage. Their song Kiss your hands, which is making waves on the airwaves caused quite some waves at the Poly Park as well. The group Confi, Okyeame Kwame and Castro all ensured that the memory of Saturday’s jam will remain in the memories of people in the twin city for a long time to come.

Meanwhile, the Public categories have been published for the voting. The organisers conducted the Selection Committee votes in Takoradi same day of the jam. To vote for the Artistes of the Year category, all one need to do is to vote for their favourite to the short code 1767 on MTN and any other network. For all other categories up for public voting, all one needs to do is to send the code of that category to the Short Code 1763 on MTN and any other network.

The countdown series to the 11th edition of the MTN Ghana Music Awards has began on GTV on Monday’s at 9:30PM.