GHAMRO’s Licence Withdrawal Will Affect Ghanaian Musicians’ Royalties
A recent event the took place in Accra on June 1, 2023 involving the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) may make it difficult for Ghanaian musicians to receive the compensation they are owed for the usage of their works.
Since GHAMRO has been stripped of its distribution licence, it is unable to fulfil its duty to collect and distribute royalties.
This comes after renowned musician Akosua Agyapong called for GHAMRO’s closure, alleging that due to legal issues, GHAMRO has been unable to renew its licence.
The interim management committee chairman of GHAMRO, Rex Omar, stated that until the licence is renewed, no royalties earned will be distributed. He also firmly denied the claims made by Akosua Agyapong, calling them a “smear campaign” designed to damage GHAMRO’s leadership.
This news was made public during a press conference that took place in Accra on June 1, 2023.
Akosua Agyapong has voiced displeasure with GHAMRO’s performance, namely the group’s failure to implement the suggestions made in its 2021 report.
She expressed particular worry about the report’s proposed solution of setting aside 10% of royalty payments for the benefit of rights holders.
Akosua Agyapong was also disappointed that those in need were not given any help, despite the fact that large resources had been set aside for other purposes.
Concerns were also voiced about GHAMRO’s inability to allocate funds fairly, pay royalties on time, and maintain open communication. Akosua Agyapong emphasised the need for equal compensation by questioning the large sums given to “spinners,” who receive royalties compared to the artistes of the song.
She also brought up the lack of openness in GHAMRO’s membership, saying that an official list of the 4,000-plus members was unavailable, which raised questions about whether or not real members were receiving their fair share of royalties.
