Stakeholders in creative industry urged to strengthen their front

Mr S.F Adjei, Ashanti Regional Director of the Centre for National Culture (CNC), has appealed to stakeholders in the creative arts industry to strengthen their front and pursue strategies that would safeguard and protect their rights and interest.

He said their lack of unity and effective collaboration had been a major drawback.

Mr Adjei was speaking at the launch of the Business Sector Advocacy (BUSAC) Fund capacity building training workshop for members of the National Society of Ghana Music Producers (NASGAMP) in Kumasi.

The four-day programme is under the theme “Advocacy for the enforcement of copyright laws to protect music right owners.”

He said it was sad to see some musicians and music producers living in poverty after they had passed their prime and at the twilight of their careers.

This situation should change, he said, adding that they needed to pull together to tackle head-on all obstacles that inhibited musicians and producers “from enjoying the fruits of their labour.”

Mr John Mensah Sarpong, President of NASGAMP, said even though Ghana’s copyright laws had been acclaimed as one of the best in Africa, its weak implementation was preventing intellectual property owners from reaping the required benefits.

He said many investors were withdrawing from the industry due to high rate of piracy, which was pushing them into huge debts.

Mr Mensah said the collaboration between NASGAMP and BUSAC was to build the capacities of members to actively engage the government and other stakeholders to deal with piracy and other challenges facing the industry.

Mr Nyaaba-Aweeba Azongo, Consultant to BUSAC Fund, said the training programme would help members to implement an action plan to reduce piracy.

Source: GNA