FOCAP’s Enoch Agyepong Explains Why he Supported Rex Omar – It Was Because of GHAMRO

Vice President for Research at Ghana’s most vibrant creative arts advocacy group, the Foundation of Concerned Arts Professionals (FOCAP), Enoch Agyepong, has revealed the reason behind his support for former GHAMRO Board Chairman, Rex Omar.

In a Facebook post sighted by KPDONLINE.NET, the music executive and CEO of Speech Production openly explained why he genuinely supported Rex Omar, who currently serves as the head of the NDC’s flagship creative initiative, the Blackstar Experience.

He wrote:

One of the reasons I personally supported Rex was because of GHAMRO. As musicians, producers, and publishers, we all understand the vital role that the Ghana Music Rights Organisation plays in protecting our creative rights and ensuring we are compensated for our work.

Unfortunately, under the previous administration, GHAMRO’s licence was seized by the then Attorney General, leaving music users free to exploit our content without payment. This decision was a devastating blow to musicians and rightsholders, leading to a huge loss of income and trust in the system.

It has now been ten months since Rex’s party came to power, and like many in the creative industry, I am hopeful that some progress has begun within our Collective Management Organisations (CMOs). We deliberately chose to wait for a full twelve-month cycle before addressing GHAMRO-related concerns, out of respect for the new administration’s process.

However, this post serves as a friendly reminder and a prompt to let Rex know that we still have GHAMRO deeply in mind. As a musician, publisher, and former board chairman, I trust that Uncle Rex will never forget GHAMRO, even as he focuses on his new national responsibilities under the Blackstar Experience portfolio.

GHAMRO remains the engine of Ghana’s music ecosystem. Until that engine is fixed and allowed to run efficiently, our creative economy will continue to sputter. We will keep advocating for a system that ensures fairness, accountability, and reward for every creative who contributes to Ghana’s rich musical heritage. The fight for a functioning GHAMRO is not about politics, it’s about protecting the soul of our music industry.”

Agyepong’s post has since sparked renewed conversation within the creative sector about the future of GHAMRO, which remains central to the livelihoods of musicians, producers, and music publishers in Ghana. Many industry players share his sentiments, emphasising that effective collective management is key to sustaining a vibrant and fair music ecosystem.