By Hafsa Obeng
Accra, May 26, GNA – CopyGhana, the collective management organisation for literary works in Ghana, has adopted a new constitution aimed at aligning its operations with international best practices and strengthening governance structures.
The adoption was made at an Extraordinary General Meeting held in Accra where members reviewed and approved amendments to the organisation’s existing constitutional framework.
The Meeting formed part of broader efforts by CopyGhana to strengthen copyright administration in the country and align its institutional framework with global standards in collective rights management.
Mr Asare Konadu Yamoah, the of Chairman of CopyGhana, said the move was necessary to ensure that the organisation remained properly regulated and responsive to the evolving demands of copyright management.
“We are here today to amend our constitution, which was adopted a while ago. It is important that from time to time, we review it and make the necessary changes,” he said.
He added that the newly adopted constitution would guide the operations of CopyGhana until further amendments became necessary.
He explained that CopyGhana, as a reproduction rights organisation, was responsible for managing the rights of authors and other creators within the literary sector and required a robust regulatory framework to operate effectively.
Mr Joseph Gyamfi, the Executive Director, CopyGhana, said the reforms were part of efforts to meet international standards and enhance confidence among right holders and users.
He noted that the copyright licensing space was a trust-based industry, where authors entrusted organisations with their rights, while users depended on assurances that acquired licences were lawful and valid.
“As we are operating in a trust-based industry, authors should trust you to assign their rights to you, and users should also trust you that when they buy the rights, they will not end up in court,” he said.
Mr Gyamfi said the constitution review also focused on strengthening governance systems and administrative processes to improve efficiency and transparency.
Key reforms included expanding the base of representation in decision-making and reducing the size of the governing board to conform to internationally accepted practices.
“We are expanding the delegates that contribute to decision-making and reducing the number of board members so that we conform with international practices,” he said.
He added that the organisation had also broadened participation by increasing representation from member associations and opening membership to individual right holders who were not affiliated with any association.
Mr Gyamfi said the changes were aimed at ensuring that CopyGhana better represented the interests of its members while promoting accountability and inclusiveness in its operations.
He said the organisation also sought to balance the interests of creators with the needs of users, including students, lecturers, and businesses, by providing legal access to educational and research materials.
“At the end of the day, the right holder is happy, and the user is also able to access materials legally,” he said.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Hafsa Obeng