Artists in Ghana who are due money for the usage of their works may have to wait.

This is because the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO), which is in charge of distributing royalties, has had its licence revoked.

It follows demands for the office’s closure by renowned musician Akosua Agyapong due to legal issues that have stopped the outfit from renewing its licence for some time.

On Thursday, June 1, 2023, the news was revealed at a press conference in Accra.

Rex Omar, Chairman of GHAMRO’s interim management committee, addressed the gathering and said that the royalty collection agency would be unable to release any collections.

As a result, the agency will be unable to carry out its collection mandate until the licence is renewed.

Rex indicated that GHAMRO has met all of the renewal requirements outlined in Section 24 of the Copyright Legislative Instrument.

“In 2010, GHAMRO submitted all the requisite documentation for the renewal of its license in June, 2022. This is against a campaign from notable persons like Madam Akosua Adjepong that the organization certificate has not been renewed and that Users should stop payments for the use of protected music which is regulated under law,” he stated.

Regardless, the Copyright Office has demanded that the organisation agree to postpone its legal cases, re-adopt Prof. Sutherland’s Report, and readmit the disbanded Election Committee to organise new elections in a letter dated May 17, 2023.

Rex Omar added that “it is unfortunate that after the Attorney General’s Office Roadmap has almost been completed with the exception of the apped case yet to be cleared, GHAMRO is being asked to go back to start the recommendation of the Efua Sutherland Committee.”

Rex told GHAMRO members on the sidelines of the news conference that the leadership has filed a petition to the Attorney General to express their discontent with the instruction.

He further stated that, while the organisation is prohibited from transferring royalties, it can still collect royalties and wait until its licence is renewed before delivering them to the proper owners.

Meanwhile, Rex Omar has taken strong exception to the allegation by Mrs Agyapong describing it as a “smear campaign to malign the management and Directors of the organization with misleading information to further their personal agenda.”

Akosua Agyapong has accused GHAMRO of misconduct, including failure to follow numerous suggestions incorporated in the organization’s 2021 report.

One of them, she told Graphic Showbiz, is a mandate for GHAMRO to utilise 10% of revenues for the welfare of rights holders.

Mrs. Agyapong, however, claims that this is not being done.

“From the 2021 report, those who are managing the fund are paid GHC72,000 annually; yet, members in dire need don’t get assistance,” she said.

Shugatiti claims in a new interview that she has forged a new path to redemption, as opposed to the sultry, sexy, sassy demeanour that has reflected her brand since she became a mainstream sensation.

She explained in a YouTube interview with ZionFelix that as she grew older and became more mindful of her own personal development, she made a conscious decision to give up several behaviours and activities that were no longer in keeping with her growing self.

“I have stopped certain things because I am growing and getting older,” Shugatiti explained. Now I attend church, and I’m about to give birth, so I’m changing.” She insisted that her decision was entirely her own and that she has taken the initiative to frequently attend church.

She disclosed that, although being reared in the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) by her stepmother, she was born into the Assemblies of God church. As a result, she has opted to attend the ICGC’s Open Heavens branch in her town.

“Three weeks ago, I went (to church), two weeks ago, and last week.” I just decided to go because I need a new family…I was born into assemblies, but my stepmother took me to ICGC, so I sat down and said, “I won’t go to the assemblies, but I’d rather go to ICGC,” and I had an Open Heavens branch in my region, so I went…When I initially went there, someone noticed me and noticed the necklace, and he asked, “Are you the one?” I responded absolutely.

“I haven’t skipped a beat since I started… Nobody preached to me, nobody convinced me because where I come from, we are not unified like that, so I needed a new family that you can go to when you encounter any issues aside from worshipping God,” he continued.

Fella Makafui, an actress and entrepreneur, owes her life to Dancehall King Shatta Wale, whose timely intervention prevented her from committing suicide.

Fella Makafui recounted being depressed when she learned that her alleged sex tape had gone viral on social media.

Despite the fact that the identity of the X-rated model was kept hidden, Fella claimed it was linked to her since she had a similar physique to the model.

“There was this day I was having a meeting with my manager and he just called me and was like Precious I need to tell you something. He was like I know you can’t do something like this but I want you to be honest with me and I was like okay what up? And he said oh your tape and I am like what, my sex tape, Where? never,” she recounted in an interview on 3FM.

She claimed that the controversy drove her to the edge of suicide, but for a phone call from Shatta Wale, who calmed her down and explained the issue.

“Shatta saved my life. He called me and said ‘Mummy calm down’ and sent me the link and I realised it was a couple from Twitter. She had a tattoo on her back but I don’t. I knew it wasn’t me because I had not done something like that,” she said.

Fella Makafui stated that if the crucial phone call had not arrived in time, she would have taken her life that night.

Based on her experiences, she claims she has developed a thick skin and will no longer be swayed by the opinions of judgmental Ghanaians.

It’s also the reason she and her husband, Medikal, maintain such a close relationship with the Dancehall king.