GHAMRO to pay Musicians royalties in June

The Chief Administrative Officer of Ghana Music Rights Organization (GHAMRO), Mr. Abraham Adjetey has outlined some of the activities of the organization to mark the current administration’s first term in office and showcase the progress made so far.

According to him, significant progress had been made from the development interventions in the various sectors of the society like the Welfare, Royalties distributions and mobilization and separating the Board from the management for effective supervision.

“It was one of the manifesto pledges by Kojo Antwi led administration and it has been fulfilled which shows that GHAMRO is on the right path of transformation”.

He mentioned the Annual General Meeting which is scheduled for May, to render accounts for its members.

“The Board was given two years mandate to stare the affairs of the union which they are to render accounts every year during its annual general meeting where a comprehensive report will be presented by Board Chairman in May for our stewardship to show the true state of the Board for the first term in 2015.”

Mr. Abraham Adjetey explained that the Board has taken time to meet members in Western and Central regions, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo and by the close of this week will finish with Northern regions in an effort to discuss issues with members prior to the Annual General meeting while distributing cars and motor bikes to Greater Accra and Ashanti regions and motor bikes each to the Western, Central and Brong Ahafo regions to facilitate mobilization of Royalty collection.

He also revealed that the first tranche of Royalty payment is being processed for payment to be effected latest by June.

On the issue of Public Relationship Officer, the hard working Administrator indicated that the Society has appointed Mr. Prince Tsegah as its substantive PR but has to undergo orientation course for five months on technical knowhow on Copyrights issues which ends in April to ensure that he understands Copyrights and the industry intricacies to help deal with allegations and problems confronting members.

He completely denied allegation by a member of the previous Board Mr. John Mensah, which Ghamro went to Kumasi to meet ‘Friends of Ghamro’ but not its core members to do the bidding for their four year term.

“Mr. John Mensah has not raised any issue with the organization except his request for payment of Royalties for Commission for works he alleged to have been Commissioned by him for which he has been receiving Royalties previously, yet claiming he should be paid Composers Royalties too but we have asked him to show proof of Commission relationship or Agreement concerning the works. It was absolutely untrue that we went to meet “Friends of GHAMRO” Kumasi. It was a meeting with stakeholders and donation of car and motor bike and to show their appreciation they suggested a four year term for current Board to continue their splendid work”.

He praised the First Vice Chairman Mr. Asuma Banda aka Bandex, who also double as the Chairman of the Welfare Committee supported by Yaw Oxborn for tremendous works they are doing for members with the latest being cash and other food items donated to hiplife artist Emmanuel Amponsah otherwise known as Omanhene Pozo at the Korle Bu Teaching hospital, who is suffering from a tumor in the head a few days ago. The cheque was received on his behalf by his former colleague Barima Sydney who together with Jotty formed the group Nananom during the advent of hiplife before going solo.