Accra, Nov. 5, GNA - The Musicians Union of Ghana, Film Producers Association, Association of Writers, Book Publishers Association, Association of Phonogram Industry and the Ghana Actors Guild on Wednesday called on President John Agyekum Kufuor to pass the copyright legislative instrument as a parting legacy to Ghanaians. The groups, in a joint press statement to Ghana News Agency in Accra said the passage of the legislative instrument would give the Copyright Act 2005 (Act 690) the legalized based for implementation. The groups noted that due to the delay in the passage of the legislative instrument, the government and stakeholders in the industry were losing huge sums of revenue and income due to activities of pirates who took undue advantage of the environment to engage in illegal activities.

The group also commended the Parliamentary Select Committee on Subsidiary Legislation chaired by Mr Francis Agbotse for their contribution towards the passage of the legislative instruments. They, however, appealed to the Committee to fast track the process to ensure that the bill saw the light of day before Fourth Parliament was dissolved. The statement was signed by Mrs Diana Hopeson, President Musicians Union; Aljahi Gado Mohammed, President Ghana Film Producers Association; Mr Eric Ofei, for Ghana Book Publishers Association; and Mr Kwesi Boateng, Vice President Ghana Assocaition of Phonogram Industry. The rest are Dr G. Kwesi Annoh, Honorary Secretary, Ghana Association of Writers; Dr K. M. Ganu, of CopyGhana and Mr Oscar Provencal of the Ghana Actors Guild.