Let us protect copyright -Akufo-Addo
Accra (Greater Accra) 19 February 2002 - The Attorney General and the Minister of Justice, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Monday called for a collaborative effort among African countries to fight the menace of piracy and intellectual property abuse.
He told participants at the opening of a two-day African regional seminar on Copyright Protection that there was the need to evolve a continental initiative for dealing with intellectual property rights at the level of the African Union for member countries to respect and institutionalise it in their national legislation.
The World Intellectual Property Organisation, African Publishers Network and the Government of Ghana are organising the seminar to formulate strategies to assist in the fight against copyright abuses in the digital age.
Participants from Benin, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Namibia and Tanzania are attending the seminar, which would also dwell on the protection of indigenous art forms.
The Minister said the continent was replete with rich music and art forms, but added, however, that such diverse culture and literary industry could only survive if there were an effective system for the protection of intellectual works.
This protection, he said, could be achieved if countries adhere to various international intellectual property treaties, enactment of vibrant and modern copyright legislation and strong enforcement mechanisms.
"Lack of effective protection will impede our ability to protect the works and products of our intellectuals, authors, creators and inventors," he said.
"Without effective protection of their rights, we are hindering not only the widespread application of the processes of technology, which we do so desperately need, but also the growth of the arts, both to the detriment of the quality of our lives."
Nana Akufo-Addo touched on the various efforts the Ghanaian government was making to stem piracy and abuse of copyright and mentioned in particular the Copyright Bill, which final draft he said had already been completed and would soon be placed before Parliament.
"The draft not only meets the minimum requirements of the TRIPS Agreement and the WIPO Internet Treaties, but also provides stiffer punishments for copyright infringement than had previously pertained."
Besides, the Ministry of Justice is ready and willing to assist in the prosecution of those caught copying or pirating works and the Fast Track Court would now try cases involving intellectual property abuse.
He pledged the government's continuous support to the Copyright Office to enable it to carry out its mandate effectively through the passage of a new a Copyright Act, the computerisation of the Office and the enhancement of its capacity as well as the initiation of an intellectual property policy for Ghana to overhaul and streamline the administration and exercise of both industrial property and copyright.
Mr Bernard Bosumprah, Copyright Administrator, said there was the urgent need for effective copyright enforcement to deal with the dangers posed by advancement in technology. He said the seminar would allow the administrators and owners of copyright to develop strategies to fight infringement of copyright in the digital age.
Mr Atukwei Okai, Secretary-General of the Pan African Writers Association said Copyright laws must in need address digital technology, which presents a fundamental change in the manner in which literary works were distributed.
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