Akosua Adjepong fights Bandex over GHAMRO’s royalties

Veteran singer, Akosua Adjepong has alleged that Music Producer, Ahmed Bandex and co-executives of Ghana Music Right Owners Organization (GHAMRO) have embezzled GH¢500,000.00 musicians’ royalties.

Speaking to Kojo Preko on Kasapa Entertainment on Kasapa 102.3 FM Saturday, the ace musician revealed that as at March 17, 2015, Government had paid an amount of GH¢1,9253,000 to GHAMRO.

Subsequent to that, she said text messages were sent to all musicians that because the said amount was disbursed among members in June, there wouldn’t be any money to share in December.

According to her, GHAMRO sent messages to musicians informing them of their inability to pay royalties in December, a decision she finds abnormal and questioned the rationale behind it since distributions are done twice in a year.

“As at March 17, 2015, Government released an amount GH¢1,9253,000 to GHAMRO which should have been distributed among musicians as their royalties.

“We had information that the monies were distributed in June so because of that there wouldn’t be any money to be shared in December but what we all know is that monies are been shared twice in a year.

“I was amazed to hear this so I quizzed Bandex about why GHAMRO has refused to pay our royalties and I was told by him that there is no money in the account so I asked him the whereabout of the money that the old executives left behind (5.450billion old cedis), he then answered that the money is intact in GHAMRO’s account.”

Akosua Adjepong who was furious said she has reported the issue to the Attorney-General to prevent GHAMRO executives from distributing any money.

She also criticized the leadership of GHAMRO over what she describes as their inability to effectively account for royalties received.

Reacting to her allegations, Vice Chairman of GHAMRO, Ahmed Bandex said the signatories to the account as was reported by the veteran singer who claimed she went to investigate at Agricultural Development Bank was wrong.

He then named the account names as follow; Kojo Antwi, Ahmed Bandex and Nana Tuffour.

Bandex said Aboagye Decosta as claimed by Akosua Adjepong was not part of the signatories.

The Music Producer added that the alleged amount (GH¢500,000.00) was transferred from the ADB account of the association and was used by the former GHAMRO executives.

According to him, the new executive board opened two different accounts with GT Bank and Unibank, which was used purposely for administrative work and welfare (Royalties).

“I will plead with Akosua Adjepong to get her facts right before she makes any allegation since she is very influential.”