Lifeline for GHAMRO

On Friday, February 24, 2017, members of the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) will be meeting in Kumasi for an extraordinary general meeting to sort out affairs of the group. In the past weeks, GHAMRO has made the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Members of GHAMRO have clashed with the Kojo Antwi-led administration over the running of the organisation, particularly with the disbursement of royalties.

Showbiz is aware that at a meeting held last week in Accra, many harsh words were thrown at Kojo Antwi and his colleagues. This notwithstanding, the meeting in Kumasi provides an opportunity for both parties to dialogue and find ways to resolve their differences amicably. If anything, members of GHAMRO should focus on building consensus with the view of convincing even more people to join their ranks.

It is important that the GHAMRO officials and the members do everything possible to settle their differences peacefully without making a public spectacle of themselves. GHAMRO is the only body mandated under law to collect and disburse royalties on behalf of musicians in the country.

The members should also not lose sight of the fact that GHAMRO has succeeded in getting media houses, places of entertainment among other entities to pay royalties for their use of creative works, something that was not done in the past. Apart from providing an alternative source of revenue for active musicians, the funds collected also go towards improving the welfare of aged and retired musicians who are no longer gainfully employed.

What this proves is that although things might not be exactly as some members might want it, GHAMRO would continue to be relevant in the lives of artistes in the country and as such all must be done to solve whatever conflict exists between the administration and the members of the organisation.