Intellectual Property Can Fetch More Revenue Than Agriculture – Copyright Ghana

Mr. Ibrahim Nayi, from Copyright Administration for the Northern Sector says if intellectual property is taken seriously, Ghana stands a chance of making more revenue than that of Agriculture.

Mr. Nayi said this in an interview with Nana Amoako on Kumasi’s finest Entertainment Show Ezone that the Traditional Cultural Expression in Kumasi alone can fetch Ghana a lot of revenue if branded and protected from exploitation under the conventional intellectual property system.

“Kumasi is the hub of traditions and the only thing that can safeguard this is effective intellectual property system. However, Per the intellectual property laws, Ghana can benefit economically anywhere our Kente is sold in the world market if it has been registered as a geographical indication from Ghana,” he stated.

“If the needed attention is given to Intellectual Property in Ghana, we can generate more revenue than that of Agriculture but it is very sad that our intellectual property policy which was drafted far back in 2012 is still gathering dust and unattended to.”

He said, till date Ghana Only Has two Copyright Offices; one in Accra serving the Southern Sector and the other one in Kumasi for the Northern Sector. This makes the work of the copyright office very difficult and seen as ineffective.

Mr. Ibrahim urged the ruling NPP government to fulfill their 2016 campaign promise of providing additional regional copyright offices in Tamale in the northern region and Takoradie in the western region. Also, the state must work expediously on the Ghana intellectual property policy so as to pave way for effective monitoring and administration of copyright and related rights activities in the country.