GHAMRO reopens nominations for board elections

The news was confirmed by GHAMRO election committee secretary Gloria Dzifa Ashinyo, who told Music In Africa that the hopeful nominees who were revealed last month “did not meet the full complement” of the number required to stand for election according to the organisation’s updated constitution.

The Rex Omar-led board, whose tenure officially ended on 17 March, has handed over to the management, with Abraham Adjatey assuming Omar’s position. The election was previously scheduled for 18 March, pending approval by the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana. However, the election date will be changed again.

In February, GHAMRO revealed 12 members who had submitted their nomination forms for consideration in the upcoming elections. They included Rex Omar, Kwesi Ernest Annin, Elizabeth Tagoe, Benjamin Mensah, Kwame Adinkra, Yaw Agyeman Badu, Francis Boahene, Oheneba Kissi, Kwabena Kwakye Kabobo, Ruth Benny Wood, John Mensah Sarpong and Diana Hopeson. 

The GHAMRO constitution now allows a maximum of seven members to be elected onto the board, including three composers, one publisher, two performers and a producer of sound recordings.

The new deadline for submission of the nomination forms is 19 March, and vetting is slated for 23 March. 

Ashinyo said the vetting process would only take place in Accra, unlike the first vetting process, which took place in Accra and Kumasi on 26 February and 4 March respectively.

"We will then propose a new election date to the executive committee, which will officiate the elections with the support of the electoral committee for them to approve," Ashinyo said.

"Despite the hiccoughs, we are still on course and will readjust ourselves in order to deliver our mandate," she added, noting that GHAMRO election committee chair Nana Boahene will share further information regarding the election procedures with rights owners in due course.

GHAMRO was established under Section 49 of the Copyright Law of 2005 and is regulated by the Ministry of Justice. The organisation is mandated with the collection and distribution of royalties on behalf of authors, composers and other rightsholders.