Legendary Highlife performer Akosua Agyapong has implored the office of the Attorney General to take action and close down Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO), referring to the illegality of the interim management committee’s operations.

Akosua Agyapong who granted an interview to Accra-based newspaper, Graphic Showbiz stressed that the interim management committee, spearheaded by her former pal and band member, Rex Omar as Chairman, was working without legal authorization as their mandate lacked support from any law.

According to the ‘Me Ye Oba’ hitmaker, GHAMRO’s mandate had not been renewed by the office of the Attorney General due to ongoing legal tussles.

She disclosed that some people had taken the interim management committee to court, and the judge had ruled that they step down for new elections to be performed.

“The good office of the Attorney General hasn’t renewed GHAMRO’s licence due to court issues. Some of our people actually took the interim management committee to court and the judge asked them to step down for new elections to be held,” she disclosed

However, despite this, no polls have taken place, and Rex Omar and his team proceed to govern the organization without any legal authority.

Akosua Agyapong, therefore contended that the interim management committee’s license was not renewed because they fell flat to fulfil the three requirements set by the Mediation Board, which included amending the constitution, conducting an audit of accounts, and holding elections.

“But before that, a Mediation Board led by Madam Esi Sutherland-Addy was instituted and they asked us to do three things—amend our constitution, conduct an audit of our accounts and hold elections,” she pointed out.

Putting in that “However, as of this time, no elections have been held and we have Rex Omar and his team still manning affairs without any legal mandate. My argument is that the Interim Management or board’s licence was not renewed because we didn’t fulfil all the three requirements by the Mediation Board.”

Akosua Agyapong communicated her dissatisfaction at critics who reduced her stance to an emotional attack against Rex Omar, stressing that she was merely championing the appropriate procedures to be pursued

.

“When I talk, people think that I’m just making empty claims and unfounded allegations but they don’t know that I’m taking my information from GHAMRO’s 2021 annual report sent to members,” she emphasized.

GHAMRO, as a collective management organization (CMO), is mandated by its constitution to allocate 10% of the received royalties for the welfare of musicians, although it is not a welfare group.

Akosua Agyaong referred to GHAMRO’s 2021 annual report, which noted that the budgets allocated for musicians’ welfare were not reaching those in dire need.

She indicated that the report disclosed that the committee managing the funds received GH₵72,000 annually, while creatives in need did not receive sufficient aid.

Also, the same report emphasized that the interim management committee used up GH₵132,000 on refreshments and sitting allowances, despite only meeting four times a year.

“At the moment, it is required that GHAMRO uses 10 per cent of its money received as royalties for the welfare of musicians. From the 2021 report, those who are managing the fund are paid GH₵72,000 annually; yet, members in dire need don’t get assistance,” she lambaste.

© 2023 • Edem Latsu Nukafu
Writer’s email: edemlatsu093@gmail.com