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.
