The Church Should Not Pay Royalties - Patience Nyarko

Patience Nyarko is of the opinion that Churches must be exempt from paying royalties.

She categorically stated that taking royalties from the church will mar the relationship between gospel musicians and the churches.

It has been rumoured that churches will start paying for any song of any artiste under the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO).

The rumour started when the administrator of GHAMRO, Abraham Adjetey, hinted that churches will start paying royalties.

It is also said it will go after commercial transport owners who have entertainment systems in their cars.

“We started three years ago. I remember I was in a church service then the task force from GHAMRO entered. They started engaging the church on the need to pay for the musical works they use and then all the members started speaking in tongues and even said one of the Taskforce members was a demon,” he said in a recent interview.

Patience Nyarko, on hearing this, has stated that churches should be left out of royalties collection.

According to her, go after commercial transport owners who have entertainment systems in their cars.

While speaking to show host Kojo Preko Dankwa she argued that the churches ask gospel musicians to stop recording or singing their songs or even ask every musician that has commercially recorded songs belonging to the church to pay royalties to them, that money will be so huge that the gospel musicians cannot pay.

“So, please, they should leave the churches alone,”

“I agree with the transport bit because there are many cars in Ghana. If each car should pay GHS5 every year just like they pay for roadworthy certificates, GHAMRO can do a lot for musicians to be comfortable but they should leave the church alone,” she concluded.