The Damela Foundation, Great Excellence Movie Awards (GEMA) has officially released nominees for its sixth edition, marking a significant milestone in the awards' growth. This year's nominations extend beyond Ghana to include creative talents from Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa. The nominees were unveiled on September 21, 2026, demonstrating the organisers' growing ambition to create a continental platform. The awards aim to recognise excellence, promote Africa's creative industry, and provide a platform for emerging and established talents.
The sixth edition of the awards is scheduled to take place on November 7, 2026, at the CCB Auditorium, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi. The auditorium has a seating capacity of approximately 1,500 people and will host filmmakers, actors, actresses, producers, directors, industry professionals, business leaders, philanthropists, and social impact personalities. The event will bring together distinguished guests from Ghana and beyond, celebrating African creative talents and promoting cultural exchange.
GEMA's long-term vision is to build a major African film and entertainment awards platform that brings Africans together, creating opportunities for collaboration, networking, recognition, and cultural exchange. The awards have sought to create a platform where African creative talents can be recognised and celebrated for their hard work, creativity, and contribution to the entertainment industry. By expanding its reach to multiple countries, GEMA aims to recognise African excellence without being restricted by national boundaries.
A major objective of GEMA is to ensure recognition is not limited to established personalities. The awards provide an opportunity for emerging and previously less-recognised creatives to gain visibility and have their work acknowledged. Through various categories, GEMA encourages young people investing their time, energy, and creativity into the African film and entertainment industry. By recognising hard work and creativity, GEMA inspires other young people to pursue their talents professionally and contribute to the growth of the creative economy.
The 2026 edition of GEMA will introduce a stronger focus on humanitarian service and social impact, recognising personalities whose work goes beyond their professions to make a positive difference in society. The Special Guest and Great Impact Awards will celebrate individuals who have contributed to communities through philanthropy, healthcare, education, business, leadership, youth empowerment, community development, and humanitarian initiatives. This humanitarian component aims to shine a spotlight on individuals whose contributions have a meaningful impact on society.
The 2026 edition will feature an Impact Week built around the theme "Entertainment for Social Change." The initiative reflects GEMA's belief that entertainment can educate, inspire, and address important social issues. Planned activities include a Keep Kumasi Clean Campaign, a football activity promoting awareness about drug abuse, and a Say No to Drugs Health Walk. These activities will bring together entertainers, young people, community members, and stakeholders to promote positive social messages.
The 2026 awards ceremony will be held at the CCB Auditorium on the KNUST campus in Kumasi, providing a platform to connect with students, young creatives, and the wider Kumasi community. The organisers expect filmmakers, entertainers, business executives, philanthropists, social impact leaders, media personalities, and distinguished guests to attend. The event will feature a red-carpet experience, awards presentations, entertainment, and special recognitions. The organisers have expressed appreciation to sponsors, partners, nominees, media organisations, creatives, and individuals who have supported the growth of the awards.
Key points
- The Damela Foundation's Great Excellence Movie Awards has expanded its reach to Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa for its sixth edition.
- The 2026 edition will introduce a stronger focus on humanitarian service and social impact.
- The awards ceremony will be held at the CCB Auditorium on the KNUST campus in Kumasi on November 7, 2026.
