MOYS committed to use of Intellectual Property to promote sports

Mr. Isaac K. Asiamah, Minister of Youth and Sports (MOYS), has pledged his outfit’s support to the use of Intellectual Property (IP) for the development of sports in Ghana.

The World International Day Property marked today under the theme (Reach for Gold: IP and Sports) was to underline and empower the financial model of all sporting events worldwide.

This year’s World Intellectual Property Day campaign celebrates the positive role that intellectual property plays in encouraging sports, range of pursuits in which human beings, have always engaged in, which also enrich lives in many different ways.

Speaking at the World International Property Day held in collaboration with the Registrar General at the Yiri Lodge, University of Ghana, Mr. Kwame Baah Mensah on behalf of the Minister assured Ghanaians of his total support and commitment to Intellectual Property to develop sports in Ghana.

He said, “without copyright, anybody can make, sell, broadcast and trademark or generate the logo, jersey among others. This deny TV stations, clubs, shops and hardworking athletes the chance to make money, employment and decent living.

“My ministry is fully committed to this enterprise and we would be very happy to receive the outcome and the recommendation of this event and related outcomes and find out how we can partner the various sporting association to be implemented.”

In her speech, Grace Issahaque the Deputy Director of Registrar General on behalf of the Director, said the process of broadcasting sporting action to fans in all parts of the world and the investment it requires, rewards broadcasters with an intellectual property right, which in turn makes it possible to finance the spectacle.

“Intellectual property rights underline and empower the financial model of all sporting events worldwide. Today, broadcasters have many advanced communications technologies available to them. Thanks to these remarkable innovations we can connect ever more closely with a game or a match; we can even hear what the umpire is saying to the players, and in some sports, what the players themselves are saying to each other. All these are possible because of technological innovations, which are empowered and encouraged by intellectual property.”

She said the design, another intellectual property right, enables teams, organizers of sporting competitions and sports brands to develop and promote their unique and distinct identity and for fans to distinguish between them.

Godfred Yeboah Dameh, the Deputy Attorney General on behalf of the Attorney General, Gloria Akuffo noted that government recognizes the importance of IP for the development of every sector of society and as a result, continues to enhance the infrastructure and systems to protect IP rights at the national level.

“I’m therefore gratified, that the hard work and efforts of sportsmen and women around the world are being given the recognition in marking the World Intellectual Day globally, to highlight the interdependence of the two disciplines.”

In attendance was the coach of the Black Queens, Mercy Quarcoo Tagoe, who was presented a citation for her contribution towards football in Ghana