The Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO), responsible for distributing royalties to artists in Ghana, has had its license withheld, causing delays in remuneration for artists. Veteran singer Akosua Agyapong has called for the closure of GHAMRO due to unresolved legal issues preventing the organization from renewing its license.
The announcement of GHAMRO’s license suspension was made at a press conference in Accra on June 1, 2023. Rex Omar, the Chairman of GHAMRO’s interim management committee, explained that the organization would be unable to distribute any collections until the license is renewed. GHAMRO had reportedly fulfilled all the renewal conditions under Section 24 of the Copyright Legislative Instrument, submitting the necessary documentation in June 2022.
However, the Copyright office, in a letter dated May 17, 2023, requested that GHAMRO suspend its ongoing court cases, re-adopt Prof. Sutherland’s Report, and readmit the dissolved Election Committee for new elections. This decision has led to frustration among GHAMRO members, as they had been following the Attorney General’s Office Roadmap, with the exception of one pending case.
Rex Omar assured GHAMRO members that the leadership had petitioned the Attorney General to express their dissatisfaction with the directive. While the organization is currently barred from distributing royalties, it can continue to collect them and wait for the license renewal before distributing them to the rightful owners.
In response to the allegations made by Akosua Agyapong, accusing GHAMRO of impropriety and non-compliance with recommendations from the organization’s 2021 report, Rex Omar strongly disagreed, describing them as a “smear campaign” to discredit the management and directors of GHAMRO. Agyapong specifically mentioned the requirement for GHAMRO to allocate 10% of royalties for the welfare of rights holders, which she claimed was not being implemented effectively, with funds not reaching those in dire need.
The situation with GHAMRO’s license suspension has caused concerns among artists in Ghana who are awaiting remuneration for the use of their works, highlighting the need for resolution and proper management of royalties in the music industry.
