The Damela Foundation, Great Excellence Movie Awards (GEMA) has officially unveiled nominees for the sixth edition of the prestigious awards, with this year’s nominations extending beyond Ghana to include creative talents from Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.
The nominees were officially released on September 21, 2026, marking another important milestone in the growth of the awards scheme, which was established to recognise excellence, promote Africa’s creative industry and provide a platform for emerging and established talents to receive the recognition they deserve.
The sixth edition of the awards is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 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.
This year’s edition is expected to bring together filmmakers, actors, actresses, producers, directors, industry professionals, business leaders, philanthropists, social impact personalities and other distinguished guests from Ghana and beyond.
From Ghana to Africa
Since its establishment, the Great Excellence Movie Awards has 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.
The inclusion of nominees from Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa in the 2026 edition demonstrates the organisers’ growing ambition to take the awards beyond Ghana and create a truly continental platform.
The long-term vision of GEMA is to build one major African film and entertainment awards platform that brings Africans together, creating opportunities for collaboration, networking, recognition and cultural exchange.
The organisers believe that Africa has enormous creative potential and that its filmmakers, actors, producers and other creatives deserve platforms that can celebrate their achievements both locally and internationally.
The 2026 edition therefore represents another step towards creating an awards platform that recognises African excellence without being restricted by national boundaries.
Recognising emerging talents
A major objective of the Great Excellence Movie Awards is to ensure that recognition is not limited to already established personalities.
The awards also provide an opportunity for emerging and previously less-recognised creatives to gain visibility and have their work acknowledged.
Through the various categories, GEMA seeks to encourage young people who are investing their time, energy and creativity into the African film and entertainment industry.
The organisers believe that when hard work and creativity are recognised, it can inspire other young people to pursue their talents professionally and contribute to the growth of the creative economy.
Beyond movies: Celebrating humanitarian impact
While the Great Excellence Movie Awards was established with a strong focus on the film industry, the 2026 edition is expanding the meaning of excellence by introducing a stronger focus on humanitarian service and social impact.
The awards will recognise selected personalities whose work goes beyond their professions to make a positive difference in society.
Through its Special Guest and Great Impact Awards, GEMA will celebrate individuals who have contributed to communities through philanthropy, healthcare, education, business, leadership, youth empowerment, community development and humanitarian initiatives.
The organisers believe that people who dedicate their resources, influence and time to improving the lives of others deserve recognition.
The humanitarian component of the awards is therefore intended to shine a spotlight on individuals whose contributions may not always receive sufficient public recognition but whose work has a meaningful impact on society.
The initiative also seeks to encourage more successful individuals and organisations to embrace social responsibility and use their resources to support communities.
Entertainment for Social Change
The 2026 edition will also feature an Impact Week built around the theme “Entertainment for Social Change.”
The initiative reflects GEMA’s belief that entertainment can be used as a powerful tool to educate, inspire and address important social issues.
Among the activities planned for the Impact Week are a Keep Kumasi Clean Campaign, a football activity aimed at promoting awareness about drug abuse, and a Say No to Drugs Health Walk.
The activities are intended to bring together entertainers, young people, community members and other stakeholders to promote positive social messages.
For the organisers, the objective is to ensure that the awards do not end when the trophies are presented but that the platform also contributes to meaningful conversations and activities within society.
KNUST becomes the centre of the celebration
The 2026 awards ceremony will be held at the CCB Auditorium on the KNUST campus in Kumasi, providing a significant platform for the organisers to connect with students, young creatives and the wider Kumasi community.
The KNUST campus also presents an opportunity for participating brands and sponsors to connect with a youthful and diverse audience.
The organisers are expecting filmmakers, entertainers, business executives, philanthropists, social impact leaders, media personalities and other distinguished guests to attend the ceremony.
The event is expected to feature a red-carpet experience, awards presentations, entertainment and special recognitions.
Appreciation to sponsors and partners
The organisers of the Damela Foundation Great Excellence Movie Awards 2026 have expressed their appreciation to the Damela Foundation, sponsors, partners, nominees, media organisations, creatives and individuals who have supported the growth of the awards.
Their support, according to the organisers, has contributed to making it possible to expand the platform and reach more creatives across Africa.
The organisers are, however, appealing to more corporate organisations, brands, institutions and individuals to come on board as sponsors and partners for the 2026 edition.
They believe that corporate participation in the awards can provide companies with an opportunity to associate their brands with creativity, entertainment, youth development, humanitarian service and social impact.
Sponsors will also have opportunities to gain visibility before, during and after the event through various event platforms and promotional activities.
A call to corporate Ghana and African businesses
The organisers are calling on companies and institutions that believe in the potential of Africa’s creative industry to support the awards.
According to GEMA, investment in the creative industry goes beyond entertainment, as the sector provides employment, promotes culture, creates business opportunities and gives young people a platform to develop their talents.
The organisers therefore believe that stronger collaboration between the creative industry and the corporate sector can contribute to the development of a more sustainable African entertainment ecosystem.
Companies interested in becoming sponsors or partners of the 2026 awards are being encouraged to contact the organisers to explore available opportunities.
Building a lasting African platform
The vision of the Great Excellence Movie Awards goes beyond the 2026 ceremony.
The organisers aspire to build a major African awards platform that can bring together creatives and industry stakeholders from different African countries under one umbrella.
The journey began with a focus on Ghanaian film and entertainment, but the growing participation of talents from other African countries demonstrates the organisers’ intention to build a broader continental platform.
The ultimate goal is to create a celebration where Africans can come together to recognise their own talents, celebrate their achievements and promote the continent’s creative and cultural identity.
As the Damela Foundation Great Excellence Movie Awards 2026 prepares to take place on November 7 at the CCB Auditorium, KNUST, Kumasi, attention is now turning to the nominees, sponsors, partners and personalities who will make the sixth edition a celebration of African creativity, excellence and social impact.
The Damela Foundation Great Excellence Movie Awards 2026 — celebrating excellence, recognising impact and promoting the African film industry.
The ceo Benjamin manful calls for more sponsors and partners to help celebrate our film makers
For sponsorship or more information
greathousetv@gmail.com
+233208251584/+233531910790
