“Creative Industry at Risk: ARSOG Chair Urges Government to Act on Copyright Administration”

The Board Chairman of the Audiovisual Rights Society of Ghana (ARSOG), Zakaria Abdulai, has issued a passionate appeal to the government to immediately appoint a substantive administrator for the Copyright Office.

According to Abdulai, the prolonged leadership vacuum at the copyright office is crippling the agency’s ability to carry out its core responsibilities.

Impact on the Creative Industry

The absence of a permanent administrator has led to a significant decline in the collection and distribution of royalties to copyright holders.

As a result, artists and rights holders have been denied their fair share of earnings from the commercial use of their works. Abdulai lamented that this situation is not only unfortunate but also unjust.

Loss of motivation:

Creatives are producing music, films, and other intellectual works without seeing any returns, which is killing motivation across the industry.

Piracy and exploitation:

Radio stations, hotels, restaurants, and other institutions continue to operate without remitting royalties, further exacerbating the problem.

Call to Action

Mr. Abdulai stressed that the Copyright Office, as a legally established body, must be properly resourced and led by competent, permanent leadership to fulfill its mandate.

He warned that if the government fails to act, the creative industry will suffer irreparable damage.

Appointment of a substantive administrator:

The government must appoint a qualified and experienced administrator to lead the Copyright Office.

Protection of creatives’ rights:

The Copyright Office must be empowered to protect the rights of creatives and ensure they receive fair compensation for their work.

Mr. Abdulai cautioned that if the government fails to act, creatives will lose the incentive to produce original work.

“If the system does nothing to protect your rights, what’s the point of investing in your talent?” he asked.

The consequences of inaction will be far-reaching, with potential long-term damage to Ghana’s creative industry.