Ghana Music Right Organisation (GHAMRO), led by Rex Omar, says payment of royalties to members of the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) this December may delay in reaching them before the Christmas and New Year festivities, according to GHAMRO board.
GHAMRO’s management added that this may happen due to circumstances beyond their control.
The management stated, “This predicament is born out of the fact that GHAMRO is yet to receive the statutory blank levy payment from government to enable prompt distribution of royalties for this particular season.”
It added that in August this year, GHAMRO distributed GH¢1 million to music right owners which was not payment received from the blank levy funds from government, but internally generated money from collections made by GHAMRO from commercial music users in the country.
In a statement issued and signed by the its public relations officer, Prince Tsegah, GHAMRO said, “Due to the above reason GHAMRO does not have the financial capacity to effectively pay the desired minimum amount as royalties, to the music right owners in Ghana, barely 4 months from the last distribution based on collections only.
Prior to the above payment of royalties in August , an earlier payment was executed in April, 2017 which was arrears for December, 2016, making this December season the third, if GHAMRO is able to meet the ‘before Christmas’ deadline as expected by the members.”
The statement assured members of GHAMRO that very soon, royalties would be paid to them immediately upon the receipt of funds from government since plans to collect cheque from the Finance Ministry is underway.