Copyright Bill comes before Parliament in May

Accra, March 18, GNA- Papa Owusu Ankomah, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General on Thursday said a committee working on the Copyright Bill would lay it before Parliament immediately Parliament re-convenes in May.

"It is important that we get the Copyright Bill enacted into law as soon as possible," he added. Papa Owusu Ankomah said this when the National Anti-Piracy Committee of the Copyright Society of Ghana (COSGA) paid a courtesy call on him at his office in Accra.


The committee led Mr Abednego Hlashwayo, License Compliance Manager of the West, East and Central Africa Region is in the country to interact with officials involved in the enforcement of the Copyright Bill. Mr Hlashwayo is also in the country following an agreement which was signed by some Copyright Societies in Africa in November last year, to see that producers of intellectual properties benefit from their work. Papa Owusu Ankomah said since the new bill has a bit of public interest, Parliament has embarked on public education to enlighten people on the dangers of piracy.


"You have to educate members about the component part of the new copy right law," he said.


He said a series of laws had already been passed in Parliament to protect intellectual property.


He re-assured the Association of government's support adding, "My office will also support the seminars and other educational forums to address the issue.

The Association also visited the Assistant Commissioner of Police Mr. Kofi Boakye, who is also the Regional Police Commander to petition his office to assist them in enforcing the law.


ACP Boakye said the police administration needed a special training for policemen who were supposed to enforce the law professionally.


He asked members of the National Piracy Committee to be united since a lot of confusion surrounds the arrest of culprits of the copyright law. He assured the association of the police preparedness to work hand in hand with the Copyright Society of Ghana.


Mr Hlatshwayo, who is also a representative of Microsoft, South Africa, later held a press conference to brief the press on what he hopes to achieve in Ghana.


He said there was the need to establish good working relationship with the Copyright Offices in Africa.

Mr Hlatshwayo said Microsoft as an organization is committed to the education of the public on the pirating of software.


"Everybody that uses the software needs to have a license to enable him use it," he added.


He said educating people to stop pirating; especially the pirating of software, and gaining a license to operate would also contribute to the national economy.


Mr Bernard Bosompra, Copyright Administrator, who led the committee, said it was important to get the bill passed and to enforce it. He said there had already been a lot of public awareness to educate end users about the right product they needed to buy.