By Hafsa Obeng
Accra, Sept. 26, GNA – Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, has called for stronger protection of intellectual property rights, to empower creatives and deepen cultural and economic ties between Africa and the Caribbean.
She said effective intellectual property protection was essential to ensuring that the growing global popularity of African and Caribbean creative works translated into sustainable economic opportunities for the creators.
The Minister made the call at the Cross-Regional Forum on Intellectual Property and Music, dubbed “Afro-Caribbean Creative Bridge,” in Accra.
The three-day forum brought together creatives and stakeholders from Africa and the Caribbean to share knowledge, explore collaboration and identify opportunities for building stronger and more sustainable creative economies.
Madam Gomashie said the forum was an important platform for strengthening the historical, cultural and artistic connections between the two regions.
Drawing on the vision of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, she recalled his belief that Ghana’s independence would only have meaning when linked to the liberation of Africa.
She said that vision remained relevant to efforts to promote unity and cooperation among peoples who shared a common history and cultural heritage.
The Minister expressed appreciation to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), the Ghana Copyright Office, Registrar-General’s Department and other partners for supporting the organisation of the forum.
She said the foundation for the forum started during discussions with WIPO Director-General, Mr Daren Tang, during his visit to Ghana.
Madam Gomashie also stressed the need to strengthen the capacity of the Ghana Copyright Office to extend effective services across the country.
She said that would enable creatives to access the necessary support to protect their intellectual property and derive economic benefits from their works.
The Minister said culture could serve as a powerful bridge between peoples and regions, particularly through music, film and other creative expressions that continued to connect Africa and the Caribbean with audiences worldwide.
Mr William Akwetey Bonsu, the Principal State Attorney and Head of the Copyright Department at the Ministry of Justice, urged creatives to take greater responsibility for understanding and protecting their copyright and intellectual property rights.
He said copyright was an important tool for protecting creators’ work, income and future, and encouraged artists and filmmakers to understand their rights before signing contracts, register their works and remain vigilant in the digital environment.
Mr Bonsu further urged creatives to understand how royalties were generated and distributed through radio, television and streaming platforms, and to work with relevant collective management organisations to administer and protect their rights.
He described Africa and the Caribbean as major cultural powerhouses and called for stronger support for creators to enable them to earn sustainable incomes from their works, support their families and build lasting legacies.
Ms Carol Simpson, the Officer in Charge of the Division for Latin America and the Caribbean at WIPO, commended the Government of Ghana, particularly the Ministry, Registrar-General’s Department and the Ghana Copyright Office, for their partnership in organising the forum.
She said the forum emerged from discussions held during Mr Tang’s visit to Ghana, where he and Ms Gomashie shared a vision of empowering creators, strengthening the creative economy and using intellectual property as a driver of economic growth and cultural development.
Ms Simpson noted the strong historical and cultural links between Africa and the Caribbean, particularly through music, citing highlife, reggae, Afrobeats, gospel and dancehall as expressions of shared histories and cultural resilience.
She said the growing global reach of African and Caribbean music presented significant opportunities for creators but stressed the need to ensure that international success translated into sustainable economic benefits for those who created the music.
Mr Bessa Simons, the President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), commended the minister for her efforts towards securing recognition of highlife as an intangible cultural heritage of Ghana by UNESCO.
He expressed the hope that creatives would not only gain visibility by uploading their works on digital platforms but would also derive tangible financial returns from their creative efforts.
Mr Simons also invited the world to Ghana to experience what he described as the country’s biggest highlife and SHE Festival, scheduled for this year.
GNA
Edited by Christabel Addo
Reporter: Hafsa Obeng
Email: [email protected]