15th Ghana Movie Awards Celebrates Top Film Stars

The 15th edition of the Ghana Movie Awards took place in grand style on Monday, June 8, 2026, at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, where the film industry gathered to celebrate excellence in African cinema under the theme “Rewarding African Excellence.”

The event brought together some of the biggest names in Ghanaian and African entertainment, creating a lively and glamorous atmosphere. Popular stars such as James Gardiner, Clemento Suarez, Akabenezer, Juliet Ibrahim, and Nigeria’s Deyemi Okanlawon appeared on the red carpet alongside many other actors, filmmakers, and media personalities.

The night began with a colorful fashion showcase as guests arrived in stylish outfits that blended modern designs with traditional African touches. The red carpet stood out with bold fashion statements, elegant gowns, and creative styles that reflected the richness of African culture and storytelling.

“SUKURA” emerged as the biggest winner of the night, dominating several categories and securing the Best Picture award. The film also performed strongly in technical areas, winning Achievement in Production Design by Godwin Mensah, Achievement in Cinematography by Kofi Asante, and sharing Achievement in Make-up and Hairstyling honours with Lidya Ashitey. Its success highlighted the strength of the production team and its overall impact on the industry.

Another major highlight of the night was “VIRGIN OF THE THRONE,” which also recorded impressive wins across several categories. Frank Rajah Arinze was named Best Film Director for the production, while Martha Ankomah earned Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film. The movie also won in key technical areas including sound mixing, original score, writing, and African collaboration categories, showing its strong performance across both creative and technical aspects of filmmaking.

In the acting categories, Amanda Jissih won Best Actress in a Leading Role for “KONE,” while Kwadwo Nkansah won Best Actor in a Leading Role for “Captain Ibrahim Traoré.” Juliet Ibrahim’s short film “Behind a Lie” was named Best Short Movie, adding another achievement to her growing list of production credits. Other notable wins included Kalsoume Sinare for supporting role in “SUKURA” and awards for editing and original score going to “King of Tema,” further showing the diversity of talent celebrated during the night.

Special recognition awards also formed an important part of the ceremony. Akabenezer, known off-screen as Ebenezer Akwesi Antwi, received the Outstanding Contribution to the Ghana Creative Industry award for his influence and work in entertainment. “Zari Hassan” was also honoured for her contribution to the African Orange Economy. Janet Ayensu of “SUKURA” was named Discovery of the Year, marking her emergence as a rising force in the industry.

The night also celebrated television and digital content creators. “Aben Wo Ha” on Onua TV won Outstanding Reality Cooking Show of the Year, while “Onua Showtime” took Outstanding Variety Talk Show of the Year. Blogger Zionfelix was recognised as Blogger Of The Year’ 25, and Chef Abbys won TikTok Influencer & Entertainer of The Year, reflecting the growing influence of digital media in entertainment.

Fashion remained a strong highlight throughout the evening, with appearances from stars like Jackie Appiah, Yvonne Nelson, Kwaku Manu, and Daniel Etim Effiong adding more glamour to the event. Actress Priscilla Opoku Agyeman attracted attention in a metallic gold strapless gown, while Nana Akua Addo also stood out with a bold fashion statement.