Ghanaian musician Mujahid Ahmed Bello, well known as Fancy Gadam, claims that the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) handed him an additional GHC272 days after publicising their prior payment of GHC102 in royalties.
Speaking on Artsy on Saturday, August 3, 2024, the singer said,
“They sent me GHC102 and after I posted it on my status, and then when my boss saw it he then posted it and yesterday they sent another one. They sent me GHC272.”
“I don’t even know the period of this payment. It’s been a year since I received money from them.”
According to the “Total Cheat” hitmaker, the organisation does not set any criteria for these money.
“So you will usually be there, and then they just sent you a token for royalties. And I don’t understand because, looking at what I have brought out this year, I know my songs are everywhere in Ghana, especially the competition album that I dropped. Looking at the streams out there.
“And I have been paying a lot of things before doing my concerts, like VAT, I constantly pay VAT so I don’t understand why they are giving me this token. Is this the only thing I deserve from GAMRO? The last time they paid me it was GHC1,800 or so,” he added.
Despite his great popularity and considerable influence to the local music scene, the small sum he earned has prompted concerns about GAMRO’s efficiency in ensuring appropriate compensation for musicians.
GAMRO, which collects and distributes royalties to musicians, has frequently faced criticism for its openness and distribution procedures. Fancy Gadam’s declaration exposes the system’s continued difficulties and emphasises the need for reforms to ensure that artists are fairly compensated for their creative labour.
