Songwriters warn Peace FM

Accra, Aug. 31, GNA - Songwriters and Performers Association of Ghana (SPAG) on Tuesday warned Peace FM, an Accra-based FM station, to stop exploiting their works or face prosecution.

In a letter to the Managing Director of Peace FM, the songwriters said the radio station has been playing their music without authority or licence from their duly accredited society, the Copyright Society of Ghana (COSGA).

The letter, signed by Mr Reginald Amegatcher, Legal Adviser to SPAG on behalf of Rex Omar, said the songs of his clients have been played in a manner that is contrary to the way music is played on radio.

"Thus whole tracks or even whole albums are played without breaks or jingles and this allows people to make almost the exact copies of their recordings." SPAG asked Peace FM to "desist from this inimical exploitation of their works.

"If after this notice you persist in your conduct, they will have no alternative than to initiate infringement proceedings against you. The letter has been copied the National Commission on Culture, Copyright Protection Committee, the Frequency Board, Ministry of Communications and the National Media Commission.

In an interview with the GNA, Mr Rex Omar, Member of SPAG, said about a 100,000 copies of one of his albums, "Abiba", sold within four months for a gross profit of 450 million cedis.

However, only 50,000 copies of his latest album titled, "FA", has been sold for about 200 million cedis. He said annual projection for the "FA" album, which was released this year, was to sell about 250,000 copies but "I have so far not been able to hit even a 100,000 copies."

"Demand for the tapes have fallen and we are losing large sums of money due to the bad practices of FM stations." Mr Omar said members of the association numbering more than 50, including Kojo Antwi, Nat Brew, Pat Thomas and Mary Ghansah, have expressed their disapproval but FM stations have been adamant.

He said this is the last warning after which "we will have no option than to initiate court action."