I'm in a place where I need quietness -Joe Mettle

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 FM, Joe Mettle 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.

Joe Mettle said he had "like four or five tickets, and they were telling me all my tickets were used." He 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. He recounted that "Somebody passed and said congratulations. I said, for what?" His manager eventually had to receive the award on his behalf while he remained outside. 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.