The Chairman of the Ghana Music Rights Organization (GHAMRO) Board, Mr Kojo Antwi, has said that the current situation where telecommunication companies license content providers to source music for them was not only inappropriate but illegal since GHAMRO is the only organisation mandated under the copyright law in this country to license commercial music usage.
According to Chairman Kojo Antwi, GHAMRO will very soon create a business digital platform for music download and take over the business of commercial downloads.
He was speaking at a seminar organised by GHAMRO in Kumasi as part of a nationwide sensitisation drive to share information and discuss the music industry in general as well as welfare matters affecting GHAMRO members.
Seminars have so far been held for members in the Western, Central and Ashanti regions where they were briefed on the present structure of the GHAMRO and efforts being put in place to streamline the licensing of music users.
The GHAMRO delegation at the seminars comprised Mr Kojo Antwi and his two vices: Mr Ahmed Banda, popularly known as Bandex and Nana Tuffour. Other board members such as Zapp Mallet, Tic-Tac and Diana Hopeson were also present as well as Mr Rex Omar, head of GHAMRO’s advisory committee.
Kojo Antwi also talked about GHAMRO’s activities in the the past year and steps the board had taken to generate more revenue in terms of licensing respective commercial music users.
Mr Abraham Adjatey, GHAMRO’s Chief Officer debunked what he described as rumours being spread by musician Akosua Adjepong and others to the effect that GHAMRO executives had squandered money belonging to right owners. He said money received by GHAMRO from the state had been appropriately disbursed.
He added that GHAMRO had opened seven satellite offices nationwide with requisite facilities and also bought seven motorbikes to beef up the work of the licensing department.
Abraham Adjatey said GHAMRO had also procured a Nissan Navara pick-up for administrative usage and a Toyota Corolla to facilitate the movement of the welfare committee since they made frequent trips to the regions, sometimes for social matters affecting members.
“All the vehicles and motorbikes have been branded GHAMRO and they will go a long way to enhance the corporate image of the organisation,” Mr Adjatey said
Mr Ahmed Banda also disclosed that a new welfare scheme, Aged Right Owners Monthly Stipends (AGRIMS) had been initiated by GHAMRO to cater for the right owners aged 60 years and above including the physically-challenged.
The next GHAMRO regional seminar is scheduled for the Greater Accra Region on March 15 at the Teachers Hall, near the Ministry of Information. Right owners in the Volta and Eastern regions will be conveyed to attend the seminar alongside the Greater Accra right owners.
An annual general meeting for all GHAMRO members has been planned for April.
