Ghana: GHAMRO board election slated for 12 March

Currently led by Ghanaian highlife musician Rex Omar, GHAMRO was established under Section 49 of the Copyright Law of 2005 and is regulated by the Ministry of Justice. It is mandated with the collection and distribution of royalties on behalf of authors, composers and other rights owners.

Rex Omar, whose four-year tenure as GHAMRO chairperson comes to an end this year, told Music In Africa that the 12 March election would see the collective management organisation’s members elect seven board members. The board will, in turn, elect a new chairperson in accordance with the body’s code.

“I’m encouraging all well-meaning GHAMRO members who believe and feel that they have the knowledge and understanding to lead the organisation to pick up forms and go for elections so that at the end of the day GHAMRO will have continuity with its new executive,” Rex Omar said.

The elections are open to persons who are full or associate members of GHAMRO, as well as beneficiaries of at least one monetary distribution. They need to be residents or ordinarily residents in Ghana and not prohibited by law from holding public office.

Members who want to nominate themselves can collect forms from the GHAMRO offices in Accra. Completed forms can be submitted by Monday 8 February (5pm GMT) with the requisite filing cash fee of GH₵500.

Vetting of candidates will be held from 15 to 19 February ahead of the election. A handing-over meeting will follow on 19 March, while the inauguration of the new board will take place on 25 May.

Meanwhile, an updated GHAMRO Constitution was approved during the organisation’s fourth annual general meeting (AGM) in Kumasi in October. The Constitution condenses the number of board members from 13 to seven. Out of the seven, the chairperson must be a composer, whereas the vice-chairperson must be a performer or publisher.

The AGM also saw the election of an independent election committee composed of four GHAMRO members plus two representatives from the Office of the Attorney General.

For more information, visit the GHAMRO official website.