Taking royalties from churches not a sin …says Abraham Adjartey

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO), Mr. Abraham Adjartey, has defended the reason behind the organization’s aim to collect royalties from churches for performing Gospel songs.

According to him, the decision was not born out of malice or to cause disaffection between the churches and musicians, but had legal backing in Section 49 of the Copyright Law, Act 690 of 2005 and regulated under L.I. 1962 of 2010.

Speaking in an interview with Graphic Showbiz, he revealed the organization has indeed taken steps to ensure that churches pay for the music performed adding that, GHAMRO had already engaged some of the churches and they had agreed and negotiated on the fee to be paid every year.

“It is rather interesting the opposing views we are getting from the sector, but that should not have been the case. The truth is that there’s nothing abominable or sinful about collecting royalties from the churches.

“Besides, the churches are not even against it after many engagements with them, but unfortunately it is some Gospel artistes who feel that what we intend to do is abominable. Perhaps, the gospel artistes should be enlightened about the legal functions of GHAMRO so it doesn’t look like we are witch-hunting the church or God’s people,” he said.

He added, “Just like every organization, I acknowledge that GHAMRO has challenges but that should not deter us from doing what the law empowers us to do. Besides, this is not the first time this conversation has come up so it should not be a subject for discussion now”.