GHAMRO, Apprise Music in Talks to Strengthen Artist Rights and Metadata System in Ghana
The Ghana Music Rights Organization (GHAMRO) and Apprise Music & Media, one of Ghana’s leading digital music companies, are in advanced discussions to form a formal partnership focused on strengthening artist rights, improving metadata infrastructure, and promoting copyright education in the Ghanaian music industry.
The courtesy call, which took place at the Accra-based office of Apprise Music, was led by the CEO of GHAMRO and supported by key delegates from the organization. The meeting was warmly received by the management and staff of Apprise Music, led by its founder and director, Michael Bamfo.
Shared Vision for the Music Industry
According to both parties, the engagement marks the beginning of a long-term collaborative effort to align rights management with digital music distribution for the benefit of Ghanaian music creators. The discussions highlighted shared concerns around metadata loss, royalty misallocation, and the lack of cohesive structures for artist protection.
“This is a critical industry moment,” said Michael Bamfo. “We’re working towards a future where Ghanaian music is not only discoverable globally but is also fairly monetized and protected. This partnership with GHAMRO aligns perfectly with that mission.”
The CEO of GHAMRO also emphasized the organization’s commitment to creating reliable systems for royalty collection and distribution, copyright enforcement, and collective education.
Key Areas of Collaboration
The two institutions outlined specific areas of partnership, which include:
● Hosting joint seminars and workshops on copyright, royalties, and metadata management (both online and in-person)
● Developing a consultation and referral framework to support artists on rights-related issues
● Coordinating media publications including press releases, social media engagement, and backlinks between the two official websites
● Organizing joint collection drives and advocacy campaigns to push for stronger government attention on copyright reform
● Drafting and signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to serve as the official guide for the partnership
Towards Metadata Accuracy and Artist Empowerment
A significant highlight of the meeting was the mutual agreement to involve the Ghana Association of Phonographic Industries (GAPI) in a broader conversation on metadata development. The objective is to build a unified, verifiable system that keeps Ghanaian songs and recordings discoverable, creditable, and monetizable over time.
Apprise Music, known for managing catalogs for legendary artists such as Amakye Dede, Afro Moses, and modern creators like Eno Barony, Abiana, and Team Eternity Ghana, brings deep experience in digital music distribution and data integrity.
GHAMRO, as Ghana’s statutory collective rights organization, will play a pivotal role in aligning this effort with the country’s copyright framework and ensuring fair compensation for creators.
What’s Next
Both institutions have committed to drafting the MoU for review, and to commence public-facing campaigns once the agreement is finalized. The partnership is expected to serve as a model for how rights organizations and digital platforms can work together to uplift the music ecosystem in Ghana and beyond.
