Rex Omar has been re-elected chairman of the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO). The highlife musician won the organisation’s election again by six votes to co-candidate Diana Hopeson’s one.
GHAMRO was established under Section 49 of the Copyright Law of 2005 and is regulated by the Ministry of Justice. It is mandated with the collection and distribution of royalties on behalf of authors, composers and other rights owners.
Before his election in 2017, Rex Omar had quit his position on the board of GHAMRO in 2013, citing a lack of transparency and professionalism in the running of the board, among other things, as reasons for resigning in a letter addressed to the board. Following a series of controversies, the Human Rights Court ordered the board led by Carlos Sakyi to step aside In 2014.
He was elected alongside Francis Omari Adofo who will serve as his Vice Chairman. The elections comes after the newly elected seven (7) member board were sworn into office by a High Court Judge, Her lordship Justice Hafisata Amaleboba (Mrs), on the 23 March 2022 at the GHAMRO Board Room for the commencement of their four (4) years term which will end in 2026.
Like all other copyright societies, GHAMRO is a non-profit corporate body (limited by guarantee) and therefore all fees collected are distributed among the right owners whose works have been used, in this instance composers, authors and producers, publishers in proportion to the use made of their works.