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I love Idikoko. Thank you, JM, for honouring this great man. I know he will make us all very prouf@
I love Idikoko. Thank you, JM, for honouring this great man. I know he will make us all very prouf@
How to be saved from eternal condemnation?
Repent and believe the gospel.
How to be saved from eternal condemnation?
Repent and believe the gospel.
Recommendation for the Protection of Performers' Rights and the Advancement of Ghana’s Film Economy.
As a concerned performer and advocate for Performers' Rights and Ghana’s film economy, I urge immediate action to fin ...
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Recommendation for the Protection of Performers' Rights and the Advancement of Ghana’s Film Economy.
As a concerned performer and advocate for Performers' Rights and Ghana’s film economy, I urge immediate action to finalize and pass the Legislative Instrument (L.I) supporting Act 935 (The Film Development and Classification Act, 2016).
Additionally, we must push for an amendment to the "Copyright Act, 2005 (Act 690)" to fully align with the "Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances", which Ghana has ratified.
Key Demands for a Fair and Sustainable Film Economy:
1. Mandatory Contracts for All Performers:
- Every performer must receive a contract explicitly stating their rights under the "Beijing Treaty" on Audiovisual Rights for the Performer's Performance.
- Any producer or executive producer who denies, circumvents, or sabotages this requirement must be held accountable as an exploiter of performers and must face maximum penalty.
2. Ending Perpetual Exploitation of Performers:
- The current practice of paying a one-time "Performance Fee" while retaining performers' rights in perpetuity must end - No if's, No Buts - and unless it is weighted and adequately compensated fairly, it must end in immediately to ensure a Ghana's Film Economy.
- Performers deserve continued earnings from any exploitation thought the lifetime of the content in which the Performer's Performance Rights are embedded in the Content and or Catalog including residual income and royalties, just as producers and executive producers benefit from their rights.
3. Urgent Review & Passage of the Legislative Instrument (L.I):
- Ghana's Film Industry Stakeholders, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Sector Ministry must expedite the review and approval of the L.I supporting "Act 935" to ensure enforceable "mandatory" legal protection for performers as opposed to the mere mention of "Performers Right to a Contract" in the Ghana's Copyrights Act 2005.
4. Ghana Actors Guild (GAG) Must Take Leadership:
- GAG must develop a standardized "Professional Performance Rights Contract" for all members.
- "Mandatory membership in GAG" should be enforced to ensure all performers benefit from these protections.
Why This Matters:
- Performers’ audiovisual rights are "automatic under Ghanaian law" the moment their performance is fixed in a recording.
- Without these reforms, performers remain economically disadvantaged, while others profit indefinitely from their work.
- A "fair film economy" must ensure that "all rights owners" i.e. performers, producers, and executive producers; earn sustainably from their contributions.
Call to Action:
I congratulate all stakeholders who have fought for progress thus far and call for immediate dialogue to ensure Ghana’s film industry thrives with fairness, equity, and respect for performers’ rights.
Salim HANNAWI
(Performer & Advocate for Performers' Rights
05004 11 111.)
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