Veteran Highlife artiste, Rex Omar
Board Chairman of the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO), Rex Omar, has criticised the state’s handling of the creative economy, adding that Ghana is still not ready to fully harness the potential of the sector.
Speaking in an interview with George Quaye, the veteran musician said successive governments have failed to prioritise the IP industry, resulting in weak institutions and struggling Collective Management Organisations (CMOs).
“Ghana is still not ready. Look at our IP industry. The reason why all our CMOs are suffering is because the role that the state must play and take it seriously is still not being done,” he stated.
Rex Omar revealed that despite serving at GHAMRO under both the previous NPP administration and the current NDC government, the organisation still does not have an operating license, which was revoked in 2023.
“When NPP was in power, I was in GHAMRO, the same treatment. My government is in power; I’m still with GHAMRO, and for one year now, GHAMRO still doesn’t have its licence. I’ve spoken to the Attorney General and all that, but they don’t see it as a priority,” he said.
97% of Ghanaian musicians not making any money from their music – Rex Omar
He argued that government institutions have not fully understood the fact that the global economy is increasingly driven by creativity, stressing that a strong framework is fundamental to unlocking value across music, film, design, patents and other creative industries.
“You can’t drive creativity without making sure the IP industry is solid. It’s not only music; it’s also about designs, patents and more. The whole psyche of the country in relation to the creative ecosystem must change,” he added.
Rex Omar expressed hope that President Mahama will fulfil his commitments to the creative economy, noting that he campaigned for him on that basis and now serves under the Black Star Experience Secretariat.
While acknowledging that 2025 was challenging for the sector, he described recent budgetary allocations to the film and music funds in 2026 as “a step in the right direction.”
“2025 was dry; in 2026 we’ve seen that there’s been some budgetary allocations to the film fund, to the music fund and all that. It’s a step in the right direction,” he said.
ID/EB
