I’ll shut down GHAMRO and MUSIGA if I were the tourism and arts minister

In a recent interview with Ghana web’s Elsie Lamar, Ghanaian musician and entrepreneur D-Black, boldly declared his intention to dissolve the Ghana Music Rights Organization (GHAMRO) and the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) if he were to become Ghana’s Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture.

Expressing his frustration, the music producer and talent manager highlighted the inefficiency of these organizations in addressing the concerns of musicians, particularly regarding royalties and their rights.

According to the ‘Vera’ hitmaker the solution lies in creating new systems that prioritize the rights of musicians and ensure they receive fair compensation for their work.

“First thing, we don’t have a royalty collection society that is accountable, so I will shut down MUSIGA, GHAMRO and COSGA and restructure a new body to take over the role that they are supposed to play because the royalty collection society for musicians and producers in Ghana isn’t doing what they are supposed to do.”

“MUSIGA as well…we have seen different presidents come and go but there is nothing we can speak about at the top of our voices we can call and say this body has done something tangible for musicians in our country,” he added.

D-Black further expressed his commitment to fostering growth within the industry. He promised to introduce capacity-building initiatives that would empower key players with the knowledge and skills necessary to drive the music industry forward.

He stressed the importance of investing in people, vowing to set up training programs aimed at boosting the capabilities of industry professionals and promoting overall prosperity in the sector.

“I will educate the music industry, especially business executives on how the industry has changed over the years. A lot of artistes have managers who they trust, childhood friends, a lot of training has to go in that to make our industry viable,” he remarked.

GHAMRO (Ghana Music Rights Organization) and MUSIGA (Musicians Union of Ghana) are two key bodies responsible for managing the rights and welfare of musicians in Ghana. GHAMRO handles the collection and distribution of royalties, while MUSIGA represents the collective interests of musicians, promoting their rights and advocating for their needs.

Recently, several gospel musicians including Joyce Blessing, Bisa K Dei, Ohemaa Mercy, Fancy Gadam amongst others have voiced their dissatisfaction with GHAMRO, criticizing the small amounts they receive in royalties.

Some have expressed frustration, stating that despite their contributions to the music industry, the royalty payments they receive are meager and do not reflect their efforts. This discontent has fueled ongoing discussions about the transparency and effectiveness of GHAMRO in serving the needs of Ghanaian artists.

Source: Ameyawdebrah

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