Television stations across Ghana have come under stern scrutiny from the Copyright Office, which has sounded the alarm over the unauthorised use of copyrighted material. In no uncertain terms, the agency has reminded broadcasters that airing content without the appropriate licensing is unlawful and could lead to significant legal consequences, including imprisonment.
In a formal statement issued on 11 June, the National Anti-Piracy Committee revealed that several stations had been caught red-handed illegally sourcing and airing films, television programmes, sports footage, and other protected works from online streaming platforms—activities that amount to outright piracy.
The committee stated, “These actions represent a breach of the Copyright Act, 2005 (Act 690), as amended,” adding that such violations are punishable under Ghanaian law and contravene international copyright agreements.
The statement further underscored the wider implications of such conduct, noting that piracy undermines the country’s creative economy and deprives content creators and rights holders of rightful earnings.
To combat this practice, the Copyright Office has directed all broadcasters to cease airing unauthorised content immediately. Stations have been urged to obtain proper licensing from legitimate rights holders or agencies and keep comprehensive documentation of all content agreements for potential audits.
The Office has announced plans to intensify monitoring efforts in partnership with law enforcement authorities to bolster its response.
“We appeal to broadcasters to uphold intellectual property rights and support the sustainable development of Ghana’s creative industries by adhering to the law,” the statement concluded.
The crackdown follows growing complaints from key players in the entertainment sector, who have expressed alarm over widespread copyright breaches by numerous TV stations nationwide.
