How Kofi B fought GHAMRO

A number of musicians, songwriters and producers have over the years expressed their disgruntlement over the operations of Ghana Music Rights Organization (GHAMRO) and how the collection society has, to a large extent, failed to collect and distribute royalties for right owners accordingly.

One of such individuals was highlife musician Kofi B who, at a point, was arrested and kept at the Greater Accra Regional Police Command for making some comments deemed as threats on radio.

During his campaign for fairness, transparency and equity in the distribution of royalties, Kofi B in 2014 said the ‘battle’ may get physical if not handled properly.

Among other things, he could not fathom why Interim Board Chairman Carlos Sekyi and his team were still in office when their time elapsed on May 2013.

“They should resign from that position or else we would beat them. But of course, they need to account for every pesewa before they resign. You can’t sit in the offices and allocate any amount of money for yourself as allowances. When was the last time Carlos Sekyi and his people release musical materials? You sit there and eat from our sweat,” he was quoted to have said.

A publication by NEWS-ONE suggested that Carlos Sekyi was the complainant. The report further said the police stormed Kofi B’s residence at Mile 7 in Accra to pick him up but he was not at home. A message was thus left with his wife.

Kofi B’s efforts were not fruitless after all as a court action, months afterwards, threw the old board out of office.

A Human Rights Court ordered the Carlos Sakyi-led board to step aside, setting up another interim board to operate for six months. They were tasked to ensure that structures are put in place for proper elections to be conducted to elect a permanent board for GHAMRO.

Members included Enoch Agyepong, Nana Aboagye Dacosta and Okyeame Kwame.

“We were all fighting for the old board to step aside and that is what the court granted us. So everyone is okay about it,” Kofi B told NEWS-ONE.

Prior to this, he had claimed that while receiving treatment at Agogo Hospital, some unidentifiable persons called him on phone and threatened to kill him just like how Kwaw Kese’s manager Fennec Okyere was killed.

“… he said then I should stop talking about GHAMRO issues and Carlos Sakyi. He asked how many songs or how many albums do I have to be talking like that and he warned me that if I don’t stop talking, I will die like how Fennec died”, Kofi B narrated.

As he departs from the land of the living, the musician will not only be remembered for his classic tunes and themed music videos; he will also be remembered for fighting for the right things to be done with respect to the collection and distribution of royalties.