Ghana's Tourism Minister, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, is advocating for stronger copyright protection and improved royalty systems to ensure creatives are paid whenever their work is used. She emphasized that effective copyright enforcement would help artists earn a sustainable income from their intellectual property, including after retirement, and reduce the financial difficulties faced by veteran entertainers.
The minister cited comedian Akrobeto's laughter, which is widely used without payment, as an example of how creatives miss out on earnings despite the popularity of their work. She questioned why the public should continue benefiting from a creative person's work without ensuring that the individual receives royalties or other financial rewards.
Hon. Dzifa Gomashie said the country must strengthen its copyright institutions and improve their capacity to protect intellectual property, arguing that artists and entertainers should not be left struggling financially after years of contributing to Ghana's cultural and creative industries. She explained that her ministry was working with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) to build the capacity of local copyright institutions and help them serve creatives more effectively.
The minister's comments underscore a longstanding concern within the creative sector: the gap between the widespread use of Ghanaian creative works and the financial benefits received by the people who produce them. She maintained that improving copyright protection would help create a system in which artists, entertainers and other creators could continue to benefit from their contributions, including as they grow older or retire from active work.
The collaboration with WIPO forms part of broader efforts to improve the protection of Ghanaian creative works and build the institutional capacity needed to support the sector. The initiative would focus not only on creatives but also on the local copyright institutions responsible for administering and protecting their rights.
The minister's broader objective is to establish the structures necessary for Ghana's tourism, culture and creative arts sector to become more sustainable. She explained that creatives should be able to earn a living from their work rather than depend solely on new projects, performances or other sources of income.
Strengthening copyright administration, improving institutional capacity and ensuring that creators are compensated when their work is used were among the measures she highlighted as necessary to achieve that goal. The engagement with WIPO provided an opportunity to draw attention to the challenges facing Ghanaian creatives and the need for more effective intellectual property protection.
Key points
- The minister emphasized the need for stronger copyright enforcement and improved royalty systems to protect creatives and ensure they earn sustainable incomes.
- The collaboration with WIPO aims to strengthen local copyright institutions and help them serve creatives more effectively.
- The minister's objective is to establish a sustainable creative industry where creatives can earn a living from their work.
