The Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO) saw its previous Board members relieved of their duties at the end of their four-year tenure of office. However, an electoral committee, which was put together during a general meeting in October 2020 failed to organise elections on time. This created a vacuum in succession and resulted in the need for that electoral committee to be dissolved.

Consequently, the Directors drew on Section 4.7 of the GHAMRO Constitution and appointed a five members Election Committee made up of Augustina Addison (Chairperson), Eric Afriyie, Haruna Sungumo Abdul-Aziz, Seth Kwaku Amponsah and Kwabena Donkor Jethro on Monday April 26th, 2021 in order to provide a Board for the Society on or by the 20th of May 2022.

Legal turmoil ensued during this period. An interlocutory injunction was filed against the outfit to restrain them from conducting Board elections on February 9^th 2022.  The lawyers of both sides were engaged in a lengthy and cumbersome back and forth tussle of motions until finally, the court dismissed the case in favour of GHAMRO, enabling them hold elections for their society.

On the 16^th of March, 2022, the stage was set for the commencement of elections. There were ten centres in operation on that day: Members in Brong Ahafo, Ashanti, Central, Volta and Northern Regions voted at the Centre for National Culture in their respective capitals. Voters in Accra cast their ballots at CIBT, those in Western Region at Melody Hotel – Takoradi, those in Oti at Good Morning Hotel – Kpasa, those in Upper East at Asongetaaba – Bolgatanga and those in Upper West at Royal Lodge Hotel – Wa.

Voting was conducted by the  Electoral Commission of Ghana with the supervision of the Ghamro’s Election Committee.

The successful elections began at 8:30 AM and lasted till 3:00 PM at all centres. The candidates for the elections were put into four groups as outlined in Section 4.2 of the GHAMRO Constitution and are as follows:

1. COMPOSERS

Kwakye Kwabena Kabobo

Kwame Adinkra

Oheneba Kissi

Diana Hopeson

Kofi Abraham

Rex Owusu Marfo

1. PUBLISHERS

John Mensah Sarpong

Benjamin Mensah

Francis Omari Adofo

III.          PERFORMERS

Benny Wood Ruthy

George Ofori Atta

Elizabeth Tagoe

Yaw Agyemang-Badu

1. PRODUCERS

Ernest Kwesi Ennin

Francis Boahene

When all was said and done and the votes cast were collated and counted, the results were as follows:

1. COMPOSERS

Kwakye Kwabena Kabobo                           113 votes

Kwame Adinkra                                                84 votes

Oheneba Kissi                                                    116 votes

Diana Hopeson                                                370 votes   ELECTED

     Kofi Abraham                                                  359 votes   ELECTED

     Rex Owusu Marfo                                           343 votes   ELECTED

1. PUBLISHERS

John Mensah Sarpong                                        91 votes

Benjamin Mensah                                                  43 votes

Francis Omare Adofo                                          332 votes   ELECTED

III.          PERFORMERS

Benny Wood Ruthy                                             117 votes

George Ofori Atta                                                   53 votes

Elizabeth Tagoe                                                  338 votes   ELECTED

   Yaw Agyemang-Badu                                       360 votes   ELECTED

1. PRODUCERS

Ernest Kwesi Ennin                                              109 votes

  Francis Boahene                                                 349 votes   ELECTED

In collaboration with the Electoral Commission of Ghana, results  collated and declared the 2022 GHAMRO BOARD ELECTED as follows:

• Diana Hopeson                        Composer
• Kofi Abraham                           Composer
• Rex Owusu Marfo                                      Composer
• Francis Omare Adofo                                      Publisher
• Elizabeth Tagoe                          Performer
• Yaw Agyemang-Badu                  Performer
• Francis Boahene                                    Producer

The newly elected seven (7) member board were sworn into office by a High Court Judge, Her lordship Justice Hafisata Amaleboba (Mrs) on the 23 March 2022 at the GHAMRO Board Room for the commencement of their four (4) years term which will end in 2026.

Per article 4.2.2 of the Ghamro’s constitution, the board balloted to elect the leadership which four persons contested for the positiosns of Chairperson and Vice Chairperson respectively as follows:

Chairperson:       

• Diana Hopeson got one vote (1)
• Rex Owusu Marfo (Rex Omar) got six votes (6 ) –  Elected

Vice Chairperson:

• Francis Omare Adofo got five votes (5) –   Elected
• Francis Boahene got one vote (1) and one person abstained (1)

Therefore, for the records, Mr. Rex Owusu Marfo (Rex Omar) and Francis Omari Adofo were duly elected as Chairman and Vice respectively.

The GHAMRO Election Committee wishes to congratulate the membership, aspirants, the Ghana Police Service, and the National Electoral Commission for their turnout, courage, support and assistance in ensuring a successful peace-themed election.

GHAMRO Pay before play.