Ghana Music Rights Association drags GBC to court over royalties

The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) has been dragged to court by the Ghana Music Rights Association (GHAMRO) for owing its members royalties since 2012.

GHAMRO filed the lawsuit immediately after the Chief Justice set up specialised courts across the ten regions of Ghana to prosecute persons who default in the payment of mandatory TV license fees, which is being demanded by the state broadcaster.

In its statement of claim captured in the suit by Citifmonline, GHAMRO argued that, the state broadcaster had defaulted in the payment of royalties for over five years in spite of promptings to do so.

“The royalties-indebtedness of the defendant for the whole of 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, remains unpaid by the defendant,” GHAMRO stated in the suit.

GHAMRO further argued that GBC had failed to obtain licenses for the “use, communication and/or public performance of musical works to the public in spite of promptings.”

GHAMRO believes GBC “would not obtain user-licenses for 2016 and thereafter for the uses and/or performance of musical works to the public unless compelled by the Honourable Court to do so.”