Ghana: GHAMRO announces dates for distributing royalties

Established under Section 49 of the Copyright Law of 2005, GHAMRO is mandated with the collection and distribution of royalties on behalf of authors, composers and other rights owners.

The royalties amount to more than 1.2m Ghana cedis (about $200 000) in total. The development was confirmed in a press statement on Tuesday signed by the outfit’s public relations officer, Prince Tsegah.

GHAMRO says the latest round of disbursements will cater to general and title-specific royalty distribution, including monies received from South Africa-based agency CAPASSO, for works used on the online digital platforms.

“Whilst the general distribution will ensure that right owners receive royalty payments across board, the title specific will cater for monitored logs from local networks and the online streaming distribution,” the statement reads.

GHAMRO revealed that it will publish the names of artists/right owners whose works have accrued royalties as part of efforts to provide access for the benefit of right owners, as well as “enable them to update and regularise the documentation needed.”

The organisation says it is reminding commercial music users of their copyright obligations for 2022.

Over the years, GHAMRO has come under backlash from musicians, who say the organisation is faltering in its mandate. Last week, rapper Guru described as unacceptable, GHAMRO’s expectation of artists and right owners to register before receiving royalties. Speaking to Accra-based Adom TV, the musician also criticised the country’s music industry’s royalty structure.

“If you can go round and collect royalties in my name and you cannot give it to me, then you have committed a crime,” he said. “The taxes and monies being collected from hotels, pubs and other places are collected in my name, but I don’t get it. Music is one business that can fetch you money overnight. I get paid daily due to streaming, but our royalties system is wrong.”

Meanwhile, three weeks ago, GHAMRO members including Nana Boahene (Stebo), Rev. Mensah Bonsu, Kingsley Sarpong and Gloria Dzifa Ashinyo filed a writ at the high court seeking to place an interlocutory injunction on GHAMRO’s elections which were slated to hold on 7 December, claiming that the guidelines for the conduct of the elections, including a new Rex Omar-led interim board, as well as a new election committee, flouted the GHAMRO constitution. The feuding parties return to court on 9 February.