WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION 
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DU COMMERCE 
ORGANIZACION MUNDIAL DEL COMERCIO 
Council for Trade-Related Aspects of 
Intellectual Property Rights IP/N/lIGHAlCI1 
27 February 2002 
(02-0966) 
Original: English! 
anglaisl 
ingles 
MAIN DEDICATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 
LAWS AND REGULATIONS NOTIFIED UNDER 
ARTICLE 63.2 OF THE AGREEMENT 
GHANA 
The present document reproduces text! of the Copyright Law, 1985, as notified by Ghana 
under Article 63.2 of the Agreement (see document IPINIlIGHAll). 
Conseil des aspects des droits de propriete 
inteHectuelle qni touchent au commerce 
PRINCIPALES LOIS ET REGLEMENTATIONS CONSACREES A LA 
PROPRntTE INTELLECTUELLE NOTIFIEES AU TITRE 
DE VARTICLE 63:2 DE VACCORD 
GHANA 
Le present document contiel1t le texte1 de la Loi de 1985 sur le droit d'auteur, notifiee par le 
Ghana au titre de l'article 63:2 de I'Accord (voir le document IPINII/GHAll). 
Consejo de los Aspectos de los DeredlOs de Propiedad 
Intelectnal relacionados con el Comercio 
PRINCIPALES LEYES Y REGLAMENTOS DEDICADOS A LA 
PROPIEDAD INTELECTUAL NOTIFICADOS EN VIRTUD 
DEL pARRAFO 2 DEL ARTicULO 63 DEL ACUERDO 
GHANA 
En el presente documento se reproduce el texto1 la Ley de Derecho de Autor de 1985, 
notificado por Ghana de conformidad con la dispuesto en e1 parrafo 2 del articulo 63 del Acuerdo 
(vease cl documento IPINI1!GHAll). 
1 In English onlyjEn angIais seulement.!En ingles solamente. IPIN11/GHAlCIl 
Page 2 
Section COPYRIGHT LAW, 1985 
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 
1. Authors of specified works entitled to copyright protection 
2. Works eligible for copyright 
3. Ideas, concepts, etc. not protected by copyright 
4. Copyright in works of the Government of Ghana and In~r· 
national Bodies 
5. Works of Ghanaian folklore protected 
6. Rights of authors 
7. Employed authors 
8. Public benefit works 
9. Programme-carrying signals 
10. Duration of copyright in case of individuals 
11. Duration of copyright in case of bodies corporate 
] 2. Duration of copyright in case of anonymous works 
13. Duration of copyright in case of cinematographic works, etc. 
14. Duration of <?0pYlgiht in case of photographic works 
15. Duration of copyright in case of folklore 
16. Duration of copy~ight in case of programme~atrying signals 
17. Enforcement of author's rights under section 6(2) 
18. Permitted uses of works protected hy copyright 
19. Transfer of copyright! 
20. Ephemeral recordings 
21. Compulsory translation licence 
22. Scope and conditions of compulsory tra.mlation licence 
23. Translation for broadcasting 
24. Compulsory reproduction licence 
25. Scope and conditions of compulsory reproduction licence 
26. Reproduction licence for audio-visual fixations 
27. Production of copies of -records 
28. Neighbouring rights 
29. Rights of perfomrance 
30. Auth01 ization of broadcasts 
31. Performer's right to contract 
32. Authorization by performer 
33. Rights of phonogram producers 
34. Obligations of phonogram producers 
35. Notice of protecton of rights of producers of phonograms 
. 36.:Pbonographic performance in public places 
37. Rights of blOadcasting organizations 
38. Limitation on broadcasting rights 
39. Public domain IP/N/1/GHA/C/1 
Page 3 
40. Registration of works, etc. 
41. The Copyright Offic~ 
42. Society of Authors 
43. Infringement of copyright 
44. Civil remedies 
45. Offences relating to copyright, etc. 
46. Offences relating to folklore 
47. Offences by bodies of persons 
48. Compensation to victim of offence 
49. Albitral proceedings 
50. Extension of reciprocal protection 
51. Amendment of Schedule 
52. Regulations 
53. Interpretation 
54. Repeal 
55. Saving rp/N1l IGHA/CI1 
Page 4 
Copyright in 
works of the 
Ghana 
Government 
and inter­
national 
bodies. COPYRIGHT LA WI}' 1985 
IN pursuance of the Provisional National Defence Council (Establish~ 
ment) Proclamation, 1981, this Law is hereby made: 
1. The author of any work specified in section 2 of thIs Law AutJ:fid of 
shaH be entitled to copyright and such protection as are provided ~~~ks e 
in relation to such work under this Law. entitled to 
copyright 
protection. 
2. (1) Subject to the prOVISIOns of this section the following 'f°r~ fi > 
works are eligible for copyright- ~~yr~~r 
(a) literary works, 
(b) artistic works, 
(c) musical works, 
(d) sound recordings, 
(e) broadcasts, 
(f) cinematographic works, 
(g) choreographic works, 
(h) derivative works, 
(i) programme-carrying signals. > 
(2) A work is not eligible for copyright unless­
(a) it is original in chalacteI; 
(b) it has been written down, recorded or otherwise 
reduced to material form; and 
(c) it is-
(i) created by a citizen of Ghana or a person who 
is ordinarily resident in Ghana; 
(H) first published in Ghana; and in the caSe of a 
work fisst published outside Ghana is subse­
quently published in Ghana within thirty days 
of its publication outside Ghana; or 
(Hi) a work in respect of which Ghana has an 
obligation under an international treaty to 
grant protection .. 
(3) The eligibility of a work for copyright is not affected by 
its artistic quality, the purpose of the author in creating it 01 by the. 
manner or form of its explession. 
(4) For tbe purposes of this section a work is original if it is 
the product of the independent efforts of the author, 
3. Copyright under this Law does not extend to ideas, concepts, Ideas, con~ 
d th d h h' f' iI cepts, etc. prace ures, me 0 S or ot er t mgs 0 a Slm at nature. . not protected 
4. Where a work specified in section 2 of this Law is made by or 
under the direction or control of the Government of Ghana or a 
prescribed international body copyright in that work shall vest in 
the Government or that body. by copyright. Works of 
Ghanaian 
folklore' 
pro~d. 
Rights of 
;authors. {PIN!! iGHA/CI1 
Page 5 
5. (1) Works of Ghanaian folklore are hereby protected by 
copyright. 
(2) The rights of authors under this Law in. such folklore are 
hereby vested in the Republic of Ghana as if the Republic were the 
original creator of the works. 
(3) Where a person intends to Use any such folklore other 
than for a use permitted under section 18 of this Law, he shall apply 
to 'the Secretary $0 to do, and shaH pay such fee as may be pre.scribed 
In relation thereto. ' 
(4) Any lum~ of money accruing from the use of folklore 
under this section shall be paid into a fund established by the Secn:~­
tary and shall be used for the promotion of institutions for the benefit 
of authors, performers and translators. 
6. (1) The author of any work which is protected by copyright 
shaU have the exclusive right in respect of such work to do or autho­
rise the doing of any of the following acts-
(a) the reproduction of the work; 
(b) the translation, adaptation, arrangement or any other 
transformation of the work; or 
(c) the communication of the work to the public by per­
formance, broadcasting or any other means. 
, (2) In addition to the rights referred to in subsection (1) of 
this section, the author of any work which is protected by copyright 
shall have the sole right- ' 
(a) to claim authorship of his work and in particular, to 
. demand that his name or pseudonym be mentioned 
when any of the acts referred to in subsection (1) of this 
section is done in relation to such work; 
(b) to object to, and to seek relief in connection with any 
distortion, mutilation or other modification of the 
work where such act would be or is prejudicial to his 
honour or reputation or where the work is discredited 
thereby, 
(c) to alter. the work at any time. 
1. Where a person creates a work-
(a) in the course of his employment by another person; 
(b) under a contract for services; or 
(c) on commission by another person~ 
then in the absence of any enactment or contract to the contrary 
the copyright in respect of that work shall vest in the employer or 
the person who commissions the work. Employed 
authors. 
S. (1) 'The rights referred to in section 6 of this Law shall not vest Public bene~ 
in any person in respect of the following works- works. 
Ca) an enactment; 
(b) a decision m~de by a Court or tribunal established 
. under any enactment for the administration of justice 
in Ghana; IP/N/l/GHA/CI1 
Page 6 
Cc) a report made by a commission of enquiry appointed 
by the Government or any agency of the Government 
and published by the Government; 
Cd) news, namely a report of fresh events or current infor­
mation made by the media, whether published in 
written form, by broadcast, or communicated to the 
public by any other means. 
(2) The Republic of Ghana is the trustee for the public of the 
works specified in subsection (1) of this section. 
9. Copyright in programme-carrying signals shall be the exclusive Programme 
right to prevent the distribution in Ghana or from Ghana of any carrying 
signals by any distributor for whom those signals were not intended signals. 
by their author; but it shall not be an infringement of the right of the 
author where the use of the work involves-
(a) the reproduction in any material form, the communi· 
cation to the public and the broadcasting of the whole 
work or a substantial part thereof, either in its original 
form or in any form recognisably derived from the ori­
ginal by way of fair dealing for the purpOSeS of scientific 
research, private use, criticism or review or the report­
ing of current events; 
Cb) the broadcasting of the work ifthe broadcast is intended 
to be used for purposes. of systematic instructional 
activities; 
Cc) the reproduction of a broadcast and the use of such 
reproduction in any educational institution or for the 
systematic instructional activities of any, such educa­
tional institution; or 
(d) its use for the purpose of a judicial proceeding or of 
any report of such proceeding. , 
Duration of 10. 0) Unless otherwise provided in this Law, the rights of the 
~{~rtin author referred to in subsection (1) of section 6 of thi~ Law are 
individuals. protected during the life of the author and 50 years after bis death. 
Duration of ' 
copyright in 
case of 
bodies 
corporate. 
Duration of 
copyright in. 
the case of 
anonymous 
works. (2) Where a work is. of joint authorship, the rights of the 
author referred to in subsection (1) of &ection 6 of this Law are 
protected during the life of the last surviving author and 50 years 
after his death. 
11. Where the copyright in a work is owned by a public corpora­
tion or other body corporate the term of protection shall be 50 years 
commencing from the date on which the work was made public. 
, 12. Where a work is published anonymously or under a pseu­
donym the rights of the author referred to in subsection (1) of section 
6 of this Law are protected until the expiration of 50 years commen­
cing from the date on which the work was first published, but where, 
before the expiration of that period the identity of the author is 
known or is no longer in doubt such rights are protected during the 
life of the author and 50 years after his death. IPIN/1/GHA/CI1 
Page 7 
DUration of 
copyright in 
cinematogra~ 
phic works. 
etc. 
Duration of 
copyright in 
case of pro­
gramme­
carrying 
signals. 13. In the case of a cinematographic· work, sound recording or 
broadcast the rights of the author referred to in subsection (1) of 
section 6 of this Law are protected until the expiration of 50 years 
commencing from the date of making of the work, or where the 
work is made available to the public during such period with the 
consent of the author until the expiration of 50 years commencing 
from the date of its communication to the public. 
14. In the case of programme-carrying signals the rights of the 
a.uthor referred to in section 9 of this Law are protected until the 
expiration of 50 years commencing from the date of the making of 
the recording. 
Durat.io~ c:f 15. In the case of a photographic work the rights of the author 
~h'6fo~a~hlc referred to in subsection (1) of section 6 of this Law are protected 
. work. until the expiration of 50 years from the date of the making of the 
work .. 
Duration of 
copyrigh in 
case of 
folklore. 
Enforcement 
of author's 
r1gh ts under 
section 6 (2). 16. The rights vested in the Republic of Ghana in respect of 
folklore under section 5 of this Law exist in perpetuity. 
17. The rights vested in the author of a work under subsection (2) 
of section 6 of this Law exist in perpetuity and are enforceable by the 
author or his successors in title whether or not the rights vested in 
the author under subsection (1) of· section 6 of this Law are still 
vested in the author or his successors in title. 
18. (1) The' use ofa literary, artistic or scientific work either in 
the original language or in translation shaH not be an infringement 
of the right of the author in that work and shaH not require the 
consent of the owner of the copyright where such use involves-
(a) the reproduction, translation, adaptation, arrangement 
or other transformation of the work for the user's use 
only, if the work has been made public; 
(b) subject to subsection (2) of this section, the inclusion 
with an indication of the &ource and the name of the 
author of quotations from such work in another work, 
including quotations from articles in newspapers or 
periodicals in the form of press summaries, if the work 
from which the quotations are taken has been made 
public; 
(c) subject to sub-section (3) of this section, the. utilization 
of the work byway of illustration in publications, 
broadcasts or sound or visual recordings for teaching, 
to the extent justified by the purpose, or the communi­
cation for teaching purposes of the work broadcast for 
use in educational institutions, or for professional 
training or public education. if the work has been 
made public;. 
(d) in the case of.-
(i) an article published in one or more n~wspapers 
or periodicals on current economic, political or 
religious topics; or . Permitted 
uses of 
works 
protected 
by copyright IP/NI1/GHAICII 
Page 8 
(H) a broadcast on current economic~ political or 
religious topics; 
the reproduction of the article or broadcast in the press 
or the communication of the article or broadcast to 
the public, if the source of the article or broadcast 
when so used is clearly indicated, unless the article or 
broadcast, when first published or made, is accom­
panied by an express condition prohibiting its use 
without consent; 
(e) the reproduction or making available to the public by 
means of photographic works, audio-visual works or 
other means of communication of any work tha~ can 
be seen or heard in the. course of the reporting of fresh 
events or new information, if-
(i) the work is reproduced or made available for 
the purpose of reporting by a news medium, of 
f'i"e~h events or of new information; and 
CH) the use of the Work does not extend beyond 
that justified by the purpose of keeping the 
public informed of current events; 
(f) the reproduction of works of art or architecture in an 
audio-visual work for cinema or televis.ion or in a 
broadcast by television and the communication to the 
public of any of those works of art or architecture so 
produced, if those works are-
(i) permanently located in a place where they can 
be viewed by the public; or 
(ii) included in an audio-visual work for cinema or 
television by way only of background or as 
incidental to essential matters. represented; 
(g) subject to subsection (4) of this section, the reproduc­
tion in the media or the communication to the public of-' 
(i) any political speech delivered in public; 
(H) any speech delivered in public during legal pro­
ceedings; or 
(ill) any lecture, address, sermon or other 'Work of a 
similar nature delivered in public, 
wbere the use by reproduction or communication to the 
public is exclusively for the purpose of reporting fresh 
events or new information; 
(h) subject to subsection (5) of this section, the repro­
duction . by recordings, photography or similar process 
by a public library, a non-commercial documentation 
centre, a scientific institution or an educational mstitu-. 
tion, of a literary, artistic or scientific work that· has 
been'lawfully made public before the reproduction is 
made. 
(2) Paragraph (b) of subsection (l) of this section does not 
apply in respect of any particular quotations unless the quotations 
referred to in that paragraph are compatible with fair practice and 
the extent of the quotatiqns does not exceed what is justified for the 
purpose of the work in which the quotations are used. fPfNl1lGHA/CI1 
Page 9 
(3) Paragraph Cc) of subsection (1) of this section does not 
apply in respect of any particular work unless the use referred to in 
that paragraph is compatible with fair practice and the source of the 
work used and the name of the author are indicated in the relevant 
publication, broadcast or recording. 
(4) Paragraph (g) of subsection (1) of this section does not 
apply unless the reproduction referred to in that paragraph and the 
numoor of copies made in the reproduction are limited to what is 
required in the particular circumstances. 
(5) Paragraph (h) of subsection (1) of this section does not 
appJy in respect of any particular establishment referred to in that 
paragraph unless the reproduction and the copies made-
Ca) are limited· to the needs of the activities of that estab~ 
, Iishment; 
(b) do ~ot conflict with the normal exploitation of the 
work reproduced; and 
(c) do not unreasonably affect the rights of the author in 
the work . 
. (6) The accidental or incidental inclusion of a work in the 
reporting by a news broadcast of fresh events or ofnevv information 
shaH not be an infringement of the rights of the author in the work. 
(7) The publication of the portrait of a person shall not be an 
infringement "of the rignts of the author or other personi having an 
interest in the portrait where the pLlblication is related to scientific, 
educational or cultural purpose~ in general or to facts or events of 
public interest or events that have occurred in public. 
19. (1) The owner of copyright or neighbouring rights may Transfer of 
transfer the rights to a third party either in vvhole or in part, but the copyright, 
transfer whether in whole or in part shaH not include the rights etc. 
referred to in subsection (2) of sec lion 6 of this Law. 
. (2) The transfer in whole or in part of any of the rights referred 
to in sub-section (l )of section 6 of this Lavv snall not imply the 
transfer of any right referred to in subsection (2) of that section. 
(3) A contract which requires the total transfer of the rights 
referred to in subsection (1) of section 6 of this Law shall be limited 
in scope to the use provided for in that contract. 
(4) Copyright may be transferred by assignment, testamentary 
disposition or operation of law. 
(5) An assignment of copyright shaH be in writing and signed 
by the owner of the copyright or by the person authorised by him for 
the purpose. 
(6) A licence to do an act faIling within copyright may be 
oral, written or inferred from conduct. 
,(7) In the case of joint authorship of a work an assignment or 
a licence in respect of such work shall be subject to the authorisation 
of the joint authors. 
(8) Where a wqrk is of joint authorship and one of the joint 
authors withholds his consent to an assignment or the granting of a 
. licence, the matter shall be referred to the Secretary to determine 
whether or not consent should be granted in respect of the assignment 
or licence and upon what conditions. IPINIl/GHA/CIl 
Page 10 
Ephemeral 
recordings. 
Compulsory 
translation 
licence. (9) An assignment, a licence or testamentary disposition may 
be made or granted in. respect of a future or an exist.ing work in 
respect of which no copyright subsists. 
20. (1) Where a work js broadcast by a broadcaster, be may by 
means of his own facilities make for the purpose of his broadcast a 
recording of the broadcast and produce copies of the recording for 
his own use. 
(2) Subject to subsection (3) of this section, where a recording 
is authorised under subsection (1) of this section all copies made of 
it shall be destroyed by the broadcaster within six months com­
mencin~ from the date on which the recording is made. 
(3) Where a recording authorised under subsection (1) of this 
section is of exceptional documentary character a copy of the record­
ing may be preserved for presentation to the national archives of 
Ghana. 
(4) The preservation for presentation to the national archives 
of Ghana of a copy of the recording of the broadcast of a work under 
subsection (3) of tbis section does not otherwise affect the rights of 
the author in the work that was broadcast. 
(5) Whether a recording of a broadcast is of an exceptional 
documentary character is a question of fact to be determined having 
regard to all the circumstances, in particular to the need for the 
enhancement of the histor!cal and cultural aspects of life in Ghana. 
21. (1) Where a work is expressed exclusively in words the right 
to make and publish a translation thereof shall be subject to com­
pulsory licensing under the conditions specified in this section. 
(2) A person who is a citizen of Ghana or is ordinarily resi­
dent in Ghana may, subject to the provisions of this section, apply 
to the Secretary for a licence to make or for the purpose of making 
a trans.lation of a writing which is expressed exclusively in words 
into English or any Ghanaian language, and to publish or authorise 
the publi,?ation of the translation in copies. 
(3) No application for a licence under this section may be. 
filed until the expiration, as the case may be, of a period of.-
(a) three years commencing from the date of the first 
publication of the work in copies if the licence is for 
translation into the English language; 
Cb) one year commencing from the date of the first publica­
tion of the work in copies if the licence is for translation 
into any Ghanaian language. 
(4) No licence shall be granted under this section unless the 
Secretary is satisfied that-
(a) no translation of the work into the language in question 
has ever been published in copies by or under the 
authority of the owner of the right of translation, or 
that all previous editions in. that language are out of 
print; 
(b) following the expiration of the relevant period specified 
in subsection (3) of this section, the applicant either 
has requested the owner of the right of translation for· 
his consent to translate the work but has been refused, 
or in spite of genuine efforts made by the applicant he 
has been unable to locate the owner; Scope and 
conditions of 
compulsory 
translation 
licence. IPlNll/GHA/CI1 
Page 11 
(c) the applicant, at the time of making, such request, sent 
a notice of his request to the International Copyright 
Information Centre at the United Nations Educational; 
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), or to 
a national or regional copyright information centre 
officially designated to that Organisation by the 
government of the country where the publisher is 
believed to have his principal place of business; 
(d) where the applicant cannot locate tbeowner of the 
right of translation, he has by registered mail sent copies 
of his application to the publisher whose name appears 
on the work and also to the national or regional copy­
right information centre specified in paragraph Cc) of 
this subsection, or in the absence of any such designa­
ted centre sent the second copy ,of his application to the 
International Copyright Information Centre of the 
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural 
Organization. 
(5) For the purposes of paragraph Cc) of subsection (4) of 
this section the Copyright Admi!!istrator shall keep up-to-date 
records of such centreS for easy reference or contact by interested 
persons. 
(6) No licence shall be granted under this section until the 
expiration of a further period of--
(a) six months in the case of an application filed under 
paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of this section; or 
(b) nine months in the case of an application filed under 
paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of this section. 
(7) If during either of the periods specified in subsection (6) 
of this section a translation of the work into the language in question 
is published in copies by or under the authority of the owner of the 
right of translation then no licence shall be granted for translation 
of the work. 
(8) Where a work is composed mainly of illustrations, a 
licence to translate the text and to reproduce the illustrations shall 
be granted only if the conditions prescribed under ~ct.ion 24 are 
also fulfilled. 
(9) Where the author of work has withdrawn all copies of 
the work from' circulation no licence shall be granted in respect of 
the work under this section. 
22. (1) A licence granted under section 21 of this Lawr shaU­
(a) be limited to the nonrexclusive right to translate the 
work into the language in respect of which it is granted, 
and to publish copies of the translation in Ghana; 
(b) be only for the purposes of teaching~ scholarship or 
research; 
(c) not be transferable by the licensee; 
(d) not extend to the export of copies of the work in respect 
of which it is granted; IP/N/l/GHAICI1 
Page 12 
(e) provide for just compensation, consistent with standards 
of royalties normally payable in the case of licences freely 
negotiated between persons in Ghana and the owners 
of the right of translation in any other country. 
(2) Where a licence is granted under section 21 of this Law 
the licensee shall ensure that the work in respect of which the licence 
is granted is correctly translated and that all published copies 
mc1ude-
(a) the original title and the name of the author of the 
work; 
(b) a notice in the language of the translation stating that 
copies of the translated version of the work are available 
for distribution in Ghana only; and 
(c) a reprint of the copyright notice, namely the symbol © 
accompanied by the name of the owner of the copyright 
and the year' of first publication, where the work of 
which the' translation is made is published with a 
copyright notice. ' 
(3) A licence granted under section 21 of this Law shall 
terminate if a translation of the work in the same language and with 
substantially the same content as the edition for which the licence is 
granted is published in copies in Ghana by or under the authority of 
the owner of the right of translation, at a price reasonably related to 
that normally charged in Ghana for comparable work; and, any 
copies already made before the licence is terminated may continue 
to be distributed until the stock is exhausted. 
23 .. (1) Subject to the provisions of sections 21 and 22 of this ~ranslation 
Law, a licence to translate a work published in printed form or other bitcencde !.?~ 
C' f d· J b d 1.; • h roa c"""lmg . .I.orm 0 repro uctlOn may a so e grante, un er tw3 sectlOn to t e 
Ghana Broadcasting Corporation where-
(a) the translation is made from a copy made and acquired 
in accordance with the laws of Ghana; 
(b) the translation is for use only in broadcasts intended 
exclu~ively for teaching or for the dissemination of the 
results of specialised technical or scientific research to 
experts in a particular profession; 
(c) the translation is in fact used exc1usively for the purpose 
specified in paragraph Cb) of this sLbsection. through 
broadcasts that are lawfully made and are intended for 
reception in Ghana, including broadcasts made from 
sound or visual recordings that are lawfully made and 
for the sole purpose of such broadcasts. 
(2) A translation under this section of a sound or visual 
recording may be exchanged only between departments or divisions 
of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. 
(3) A licence may also be granted under this section to the 
Ghana Broadcasting Corporation to translate any text incorporated 
in an audio-visual fixation that is itself prepared and published for 
the sole purpose of being used in connection with systematic instruc­
tional activities. 
(4) No translation made under this section shall be used for 
commercial purposes. I PIN 11 /GHA/C/ 1 
Page 13 
24. (l) Where a literary, scientific or artistic work is published in Compuis~ry 
printed form or other form of reproduction, the exclusive right to ?P~~UCtiOll 
reproduce the work and publish it in copies shall be subject to com-Ice c 
pulsory licensing under the conditions specified in this section. 
(2) A person who is a citizen of Ghana or is ordinarily resi­
dent in Ghana may, subjectto the provisions of this section, apply to 
the Secretary for a licence to reproduce or for the purpose of re­
producing a particular edition of a work referred to in subsection (1) 
of this section and to publish or authorise the publication of such 
reproduction in copies. 
(3) No licence shall be granted under this section-
(a) until the expiration, as the case may be, of a period of­
(i) three years commencing from the date of publi­
cation of a work of technology or of a natural 
or physical science including mathematics; 
(ii) seven years commencing from the date of publi­
cation of a work of fiction, poetry, drama or 
music or for a book of art; and 
(m) five years commencing from the date of publica­
tion of any other work; 
(b) unless the Secretary is satisfied that-
(i) there has never been a sale or other distribution, 
authorised by the owner of the reproduction 
right, of copie~ of the particular edition in Ghana 
to the genera,I public or in connection with 
systematic instructional activities, at a price 
reasonably related to that charged in Ghana 
for comparable works; or that there has been 
no such sale or other distribution during the 
immediately preceding six months; . 
(H) the . applicant either has requested from the 
owner of the right of reproduction for his 
authorisation to reproduce the work and has 
been refused, or in spite of genuine efforts made 
by the applicant he has been unable to locate 
the owner; 
(iii) the applicant, at the time of making such re­
quest, sent a notice of his request either to the 
International Copyright Information Centre at 
the United Nations Educational, Scientific and 
Cultural Organization (UNESCO), or a national 
or regional copyright information centre offi­
cially designated to that Organization by the 
government of the country where the publisher 
is believed to have his. principal place of business; IPINI1/GHAICIl 
Page 14 
(iv) where the applicant cannot locate the owner of 
the. right of reproduction, the applicant has by 
regIstered mail sent copies of his application 
to the publisher whose name appears on the 
~ork ~md also. to the national or regional copy­
rIgbt mformatlOn centre specified in sub-para­
grapb (Hi) of this paragrar:h or in the absence 
of any such designated centre sent the second 
copy of his application 'to the International 
Copyright Information Centre of the United 
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural 
Organization. 
(4) For the purposes of paragraph (b) (Hi) of subsection (3) 
of this section the Copyright Administrator shall keep up-to-date 
records of such centres for easy reference or contact by interested 
persons, 
(5) No licence shall be granted under this section until after 
the expiration of a period of six months commencing from the date 
of the request referred to in paragraph Cb) (Hi) of subsection (3) of 
this section or from the date of dispatch of the copies of the applica­
tion ,in accordance with paragraph (b) (iv) of that subsection, which 
period shall run concurrently with ·the three 'Years specified in para­
graph (a) (i) of subsection (3) of this section. 
(6) Where the author of a work has withdrawn aU copies of 
an edition of the work from circulation no licence shall be granted 
under this section in respect of that edition. 
25. (1) A licence granted under section 24 of this Law shall- ScOPd? .and con Ihons of 
(a) be limited to the non-exclusive right to reproduce the compl.ljls~ry 
particular edition of the work in respect of which it is r~productlon 
ed d bI' h ' f h d" lIcence. grant ,an to pu IS COPleSO t e repro uctlon III 
Ghana for use in connection with systematic instruc-
tional activities, but the price at which the reproduced 
copies are sold shall be at a level not higher than such 
amount as is reasonably related to the price normally 
charged in Ghana for comparable work; 
(b) not be transferable by the licensee; 
( c) not extend to the export of copies of the particular 
edition of the work in respect of which it is granted; 
(cl) provide for just compensation, consistent with stan­
dards of royaltiesnormaHy payable in the case of licences 
freely negotiated between persons in Gnana and the 
owners of the right of reproduction in any other 
country. 
(2) Where a licence is granted Under section 24 of this Law 
the licensee shall ensure that the particular edition of the work in 
respect of which the licence is granted is accurately reproduced and 
that all published copies include the following-
(a) the title of the particular edition of the work and the 
name of ~he author; 
(b) a notice in the appropriate language stating that copies 
of the reproduced version of the works are available 
for distribution in Ghana only; and Reproduction 
licence for 
audio-visual 
fixations. 
Production 
of copies of 
records. IP/NIlIGHA/CIl 
Page 15 
(c) if the edition which is reproduced bears a copyright 
notice, a reprint of that notice. 
(3) A licence granted under section 24 of this Law shall 
terminate-
(a) whenever copies of an edition of the work in respect of 
which the licence is granted is distributed to the general 
public in Ghana; or 
(b) whenever copies of the edition ofthe work is distributed 
in Ghana in connection with systematic instructional 
activities, 
by or under the authority of the owner of the right of reproduction 
at a price reasonably related to that normally charged in Ghana for 
comparable work, if such edition is in the same language and is 
substantially the same in content as the edition pt.blished under the 
licence; and any copies already made before the licence is terminated 
may continue to be distributed until the stock is exhausted. 
26. (1) A licence may be granted under this sectionby the Secre~­
tary to an applicant-
Ca) to reproduce in audio-visual form a lawfully made 
audio-visual fixation, including any protected work 
incorporated in it; or 
(b) to translate any text incorporated in such fixation into 
either English or any Ghanaian language. 
(2) No licence shall be granted under this section unless the 
audio-visual fixation is prepared and published for the sole purpose 
of being used in connection wi~h systematic instructiop.al activities. 
27. (1) A manufacturer of phonogram may make copies of any 
musical work or a similar adaptation thereof if-
(a) copies of the musical work or a similar adaptation of 
them have previously been made in or imported into 
Ghana for the purpose of retail sale, and were so made 
with the licence of, or imported by, the owner of the 
copyright in such work; and 
(b) before the making of the copies the manufacturer 
gives the owner of the copyright notice of his intention 
to make the copies and the address at which he intends 
to make them. 
(2) The manufacturer shaH not later than fifteen days before 
the'sale of any of the copies made by him under this section send to 
the owner of the copyright or the person authorised' by him for the 
purpose by registered post notice of his intention to sell or otherwise 
distribute the copies made and such notice shall contain-
(a) the name and address of the manufacturer; 
(b) the title of the work to which the notice under para­
graph (b) of subsection (1) of this section relates, with 
a description sufficient to identify the author of the 
work and the publisher thereof; , 
(c) the type of phonogram on which the manufacturer 
intends to produce the work and an estimate of the 
number of copies he initially intends to sell; lP/N/1/GHA/C/l 
Page 16 
(cl) the ordinary selling price of the copies the manufac­
turer intends to reproduce and the amount of royalty 
payable in respect of them; and 
(e) the earliest date on which any of the copies may be 
available for sale. 
(3) The manufacturer shall, within fourteen days after he has 
sent the notice referred to in subsection (2) of this section, pay 
royalties to the owner of the copyright, and shall have affixed to 
each copy of the phonogram made by him an adhesive label issued 
by the appropriate body or person as evidence of such payment. 
(4) The royalty payable by the manufacture~ under subsectIon 
(3) of this section shall be an amount not less than seven per centum 
of the ordinary retail sening price of each copy of the phonogram 
made under this. section. 
(5) It shall be an infringement of copyright where the manu­
facturer exhibits for sale or sells without thee adhesive label referred 
to in subsection (3) of this section any copy of a phonogram made 
by him under this section. 
28. The protection granted under the provisions of sections 29 to Neighbouring 
38 of this Law relating to neighboUring rights shall not in any way rights affect 
affect copyright in a literary, sCientific or artistic. work under this :~;~ght. 
Law, and accordingly no provision in any of the said sections shall 
be construed so as to. affect copyright in any such work. 
, 29. A performer 'shall have the right to authorise or prohibit the CopyrightSo 
fixation, recordmg, communication to the public, transmission or performers. 
any other form of use of his performance, and accordingly no person 
shall do any of the following acts without the authorisation of-the 
performer-
(a) the broadcasting or communiC'dtion to the public of 
his performance, except-
(i) where it is made for a previously authorised 
fixation; or . 
(H) where the transm.ission. is one that has been 
authorised by the broadcastin.g organization 
that transmits the first performance; 
(b) the fixation of his performance not previously fixed 
on a physical medium; 
(c) the reproduction of a fixation of his performance in 
the following cases :-
(i) where the performance is initially fixed without 
his authorisation; 
(H) where the reproduction is made for purposes 
other than those for which the performer gives 
his authorisation; and 
(iii) where the . performance is initially fixed in 
accordance with the provhions of this Law, but 
the reproduction is made for purposes ether 
than those specified. Authorisa~ 
tion 
relating to 
broadcast. 
Performer's 
right to 
contract. 
Authorisa:­
tionby , 
performer, 
Rights of 
phonogram 
producers. 
Obligations 
of ph ono­
gram 
producers. IPfNI1/GHAIC!1 
Page 17 
30. In the 'absence of any law or contract to the contrary, the 
authorisation to broadcast a performance under section 29 of this 
Law does not imply a consent-
(a) to license other broadcasting organizations to transmit 
the performance; 
(b) to make a fixation of the performance; 
Cc) to reproduce the fixation where authorisation is granted 
to broadcast and to make a fixation of the performance; 
(cl) to broadcast the performance from the fixation or any 
reproduction of such fixation where the authorisation 
granted is to make a fixation of the performance and 
to reproduce the fixation. 
31., Nothing in this Law shall be construed so as to remove the 
right of a performer to agree by contract on such terms and condi­
tions as he thinks fit for the use of his performance by another 
person. 
32. Where two or more performers take part in the same per­
formance as a group, authorisation for the purposes of section 29 
of this Law may be given by the legal representative of the group, 
if any, or by the leader of the group. ' 
33. (l) The producer of' a phonogram shall have the right to 
authorise or prohibit the reproduction of that phonogram. 
(2) For the purposes of this section a copy of a phonogram 
shaJl be unlawful if with or without imitating the outward charac­
teristics of the original work it incorporates all or part of the pro­
ducer's phonogram without his authorisation. 
(3) Where a phonogram that is published for comreercial 
purposes or a reproduction thereof is used for broadcasting or for 
any other form of communication to the public the user shall pay 
to the producer such lump sum as is just in respect of remuneration 
to the producer and the performers. 
34. (l) The producer of a phonogram shall state on the label of 
the disc or on its container-, 
Ca) the name' of the author and those of the main per­
formers~ 
(b) ,the title of the work; 
( c) the year of the cutting of the original matrix; 
(cl) the. name (whether individual or corporate) or dis.. 
tinguishing mark of the producer; and . 
(e) that the rights accruing to the producer under this 
Law are reserved. 
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of 
this. section, chcirs, orchestras and composers shall be referred to 
by their proper names apd by the Dame of the leader, if any. 
35. (l)Where copies of a phonogram are made for commercial Notice ,of 
purposes, there shall be printed on the copies a notice consisting of- ~i~~fsc~~n of 
Ca) the symbol (p); and pr~ducers of 
f '"" li' f th phonogram. (b) the year 0 first pub catIOD 0 'e phonogram, . 
placed in su;ch a manner as to give reasonable notice of claim of 
pro,tectioD of the rights of the producer. IP/N/1/GHA/CIl 
Page 18 
Limitation 
on 
broadcasting 
rights. 
1'hepublic 
domain. . (2) Where the copies ef the phonogram or their containers 
do not identify the producer or his licence in relation thereto by his 
name; description or trade mark, the notice shall also include the 
name of the person who owns the rights of the producer. 
(3) Where the. copies of the phonogram or their containers 
do not identify the principal performers, the notice shaH also include 
thename of the person who own s the rights of the performers. 
(4) Nothing in this Law shall prejudice the. right of any 
person to use, in accordance with the provisions of this Law, fixations 
or reproductions made in good faith before the coming into force of 
this Law. 
36. Where in any public place by means of broadcasting, cinema .. Phonogra. 
tography, jukeboxes or other apparatus, phonographic discs or phic 
other .devices are used in a public performance the. authors, per-petfo[wa,nce 
formers ari.d the producers of the phonogram shall. be entitled to ~~ic~s. le 
royalties in accordance with the provisions of this Law. 
37. J:>. broadcas.til?-g organization shall have the exclusive right to Rights of 
authonse or prohlblt-. broadcasting 
Ca) therebroadcastiug of its broadcasts; organizations. 
(b) the fixation of its broadcasts; or 
(c) the reproduction of a fixation of its broadcasts where­
(i). the ·fixation used to make the reproduction, is 
made without authorisation; or 
(ii) the broadcast is initially fixed in accordance 
with thy provis.ions of this Law,~ut the repro­
duction is tpade. for purp{)ses other than those 
. specified. 
38. The provisions. of sections 29, 30, 32, 33, 36 and 31 o~ tbis 
Law shall notapply where tooaGts referred to ar,e concerned wlth-
(a) private use; 
(b) the reporting of current events, except that no more 
than short 'excerpts ofa performance, -phonogram or 
broadcast are used; 
(c) teaching or scientific.research; 
Cd) quotations the for:q1 of short ex.cerpts. of a perfo~m-
ance, ph01l0gram or broadcast, which are c:ompatl~le 
with fair practice and are justified by the informative 
purp.ose of those quotations. 
39. (1) The fonowing works shaH belong to the public domain­
(a)· works whose terms of protection have expired; 
(b). works Whose authors have renounced their rights; and 
(c) foreign works that do not enjoy protection in Ghana. 
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of 
this section renunciation by' an author or his successor in title of his 
rights referred to in subsection (1) of section 6 of this Law shall be 
by writing and made public, but any such renunciation shaH not be 
contrary to any previous contractual obligation relating to the work. 
(3) Subject to the payment of such fee as may be determined 
by the Secretary in relation thereto, a work that has fallen into the 
public domain may be used without any restriction. Registration 
of wow, etc .. rPfNfl IGHA/C/l 
Page 19 
(4) Any sums of money accruing from the payment of fees 
under subsection (3) of thi's section shall be paid into a fund which 
shall be established. by the Secretary for the promotion of institutions 
for the-benefit of authors, performers and translators. 
40. (1) There shall be maintained by the Copyright Administrator 
registers in which shall be registered works, productions and asso­
ciations of authors. 
(2) The purpO"1es of registration of works are­
(a) to maintain a record of works; 
Cb) to publicise the rights of the owners, and 
(c) to give evidence of the ownership of intellectual 
property_ 
(3) The publisher of a work in Ghana shall cause that work 
to be registered at the Copyright 'Office within three months of its 
publication and a copy of the best edition shall be deposited at that 
Office. 
(4)' Any publisher Who contravenes any of the provisions of 
subsection (3) of this section shall be guilty of an offence and 
liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding five thousand cedis. 
41. (l) For the purposes of this Law there shall be established 
an office to be known as "the Copyright Office". 
(2) Except as otherwise provided, the Copyright Office shall 
be responsible for the implementation of this Law. ' 
(3)' The Copyright Office shaH have a Copyright Administrator 
and supporting staff all of whom" shall be public officers and shall be 
appointed by the Provisional National 'Defence Council on such 
terms and conditions as the Council may determine. 
42. There shaH be established' in Ghana a non-profit making 
body corporate which shall, among other things, be responsible for 
the promotion and protection of the interest of authors and, in 
. particular the collection and distribution of any royalties or other 
renumeration accruing to tilem in respect of their rights under sub-
section (1) of section 6 of this Law. The Copy­
right Office. 
Society of 
authors. 
43" 0) A person infringes another person's rights under this Law Infringement 
if 'without the licence or authorization of that other person or a of copyrigh4 
person authorised by him to grant such licence or authorisation etc. 
does, permits or causes another person to-
(a) reproduce, duplicate, extract, imitate,' or import into 
Ghana otherwise than' for his private use or permit or 
cause to be reproduced, duplicated, extracted, imitated, 
or imported into Ghana otherwise than for his private 
USe; or 
(b) distribute or permit or cause to be distributed in Ghana 
by way of sale or hire or otherwH;e; or 
(c) exhibit or permit or cause to be exhibited in public for 
commercial purposes, any work protected. under .this 
Law. IPINII IGHA/CIl 
Page 20 
Offences 
relating to 
~pyright. 
etc. 
Offences 
relating to 
folklore, . 
Offences by 
bodies of 
persons. (2) For the purp-oses of this section the exploitation of a 
work in a manner prejr.dicia1 to the honour or reputation of the 
author shall be deemed an infringement of the rights of the author. 
44. (1) Any person'whose rights under this Law a.re in imminent CMl 
danger of being infringed or a.re being infringed may initiate civil Remedies. 
proceedings in the High Court-
(a) for an injunction to prevent the infringement or pro­
hibit the continuation of the infringement; or 
(b) for the recovery of damages for the infringement. 
(2) Upon an ex parte application by the plaintiff, the Court 
maYt in chambers, make an order for the inspection of or removal 
from the defendant's premi~es, copyright infringing materials which 
constitute evidence of infringement by the defendant. 
(3) The grant of an injunction under subsection (1) of this 
section shall not affe.ct the plaintiff's claim for damages in J;~:pect of 
loss sustained by him as a result of the infringement of his rights 
under this Law. 
(4) A person who sustains damage by reason of an infringe­
ment of his rights under this Law may institute civil proceedings 
against the per5cn responsible for the infringement whether or not 
such person has been successfully prosecuted under this Law. 
-i 
45. Any person who infringes any copyright or neighbouring 
right of another person under this Law shaH be guilty of an offence 
and shaH be liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less th<:ln 
SZlO,OOO.OO and not exceeding SZl,OOO,OOO.OO or to imprisonment 
not exceeding two years or both ; and in the case of a continuing 
offence to a further fine not less than ~5,OOO.OO and not exceeding 
~50,OOO.O~ for each day during which the offence continues. 
46. (1) No person shall without the permission' in writing of the 
Secretary import into Ghana, sell, offer or expose for sale or distri­
b~lte in Ghana any copies of the following works made outside 
Ghana-
(a) works of Ghanaian folklore; or 
Cb) translations, adaptations, or arrangements of Ghanaian 
folklore. 
(2) Any person who contravenes subsection (l) of this section 
shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to 
a fine of not less than~lO,OOO.OO and not exceeding ~l,OOO,OOO.OO or 
to imprisonment not exceeding two years or both; and in the case 
of a continuing offence to a further fine of not less than ~5,OOO.OO for 
each day during which the offence continues. . 
41. (1) Where an offence is committed by a body of persons 
under this Law then-
(a) in the case of a body corporate other than a partnership, 
every director or secretary of the body corporate shall 
also be guilty of the offence; and 
(b) in the case of a partnership, every partner shall also 
be guilty of that offence. IPlN/I/GHAICli 
Page 21 
(2) No person shall be guilty of an offence under subsection (1) 
of this. section if he proves to the satisfaction of the court that the 
.offence in respect of which he is charged was committed by some 
person other than himself and was without his consent or conniw 
vance and that he exercised all such diligence to prevent the Com­
mission of that offence as he ought to have exercised having regard 
to all the circumstances. 
48.. In addition to any punishment imposed by the court in respect Compensa-
of an offence under this Law the COUfIl may order...... tion to victim . of offence. 
(a) that an sums of money arising out of the offence and 
received by the offender be accounted for by him and 
paid to the person entitled under this Law to those 
sums; and 
(b) that all reproductions, duplications, extracts, imita­
tions and other material involved in the infringement, 
and that all implements or devices used in the infringe­
ment be forfeited and disposed of as the court may 
. direct having regard to. an the circumstances relating 
to the infringement. 
49.. (1) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Law there Arbitral, 
may be appointed by the Secretary arbitlators for the settlement of proceedmgs. 
disputes ~mder this Law where-
(a) in the opinion of the Secretary it is desirable so to do; Or 
(b) the parties involved in a dispute apply to the Secretary 
so to do. " 
(2) The Secretary may, by legislative instrument, make regu­
lations for the appointment of arbitrators, their proceedings and 
other matters relating thereto. 
, . 
50. (1) The Secretary may, by legislative instrument, provide for Extension of 
reciprocal treatment in relation to the rights to which this Law re-reciro~l 
lates, to be given to any country that .provides protection for similar pro cctlOIl. 
rights in respect of Ghana as given by this Law. 
. . (2) Without prejudice to the provisions of subsection (1) 
of this section works created in the countries specified in the Schedule 
to this Law~ which countries are parties to the Universal Copyright! 
Convention, are hereby protected. . 
51 .. (1) When any country other than Ghana becomes or ceases Amendment 
to be a party to the Universal Copyright Convention, the Secretary of Schedule. 
shall; by legislative instrument, amend the Schedule to this Law by 
inserting or deleting the name of that country, as the case may 
require: . 
Provided that the Secretary shaH not be required to insert 
the name of a country if, before the said Convention has come into 
force in respect of that country, the Government of Ghana has given 
notice that it declines to recognise the accession of that country. 
(2) An. instrument made under this section may contain 
transitional and consequential provisions as the Secretary thinks 
n~. lP!N1l /GHA/C! 1 
Page 22 
Regulations. 52. (1) The 'Secretary may, by legislative instrument, make such 
regulations as he may think fit for the purpose of giving full effect to 
the .provisions of this Law. 
(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of subsection (1) of 
this sectIon regulations made thereunder may provide for-. 
(a) anything to be prescribed under this Law;, . 
(b) the application for a compulsory translation or repro­
duction licence and related procedures; 
(c) measures to ensure the payment and transfer in con­
vertible currency of compensation payable in respect 
of a compulsory translation or reproduction licence; 
(d) the registration and deposit of works; 
(e) the establishment of a fund in accordan(.e with section 
5 of this Law; 
if) the administration of 'the Copyright Office; 
(g) the appointment, duties and proceedings of arbitrators; 
Ch) the form and scope of contracts and licences relating to 
publishing, performing, photographic and cinemaw­
graphic productions; 
(i) the designation of Ghanaian folklore. 
53. In this Law unless the context otherwise requires-
"artistic work" f!1eans irrespective ... of artistic quality any 
of the foI1owmg works--
(a) paintings, drawings, etchings, lithographs, 
woodcuts, engravings or prints; 
(b) photography not comprised in a cinemato-
graph film; 
(c) maps, plans or diagrams; 
(d) sculpture; 
(e) works of architecture in the form of buildings 
or modelS; or 
(f) works of applied art, whether handicraft or 
produced on an industrial scale; 
"author" means a person who creates a work, but in the 
case of a broadcast transmitted from within a cOillltry, 
means the person by whom the arrangements for the 
making of the transmission within that country were 
u.ndertaken; and in the case of a cinematographic film 
or sound recoidingmeans the person by ~hom ~he 
. arrangements for the making of the film or recording 
were tmdertaken; 
"broadcasting" means the transmitting for reception by 
the general public over a distance by means of radio, 
television electromagnetic emissions, light beams, wire, 
cable or other means; 
"choreographic work" includes all·forms of dance, whether 
or Dot in dramatic form; lP/NI! IGHA/CIl 
Page 23 
"cinematographic work" means a fixation in a physical 
medium of images synchronised with or without 
sound, including video tapes and videograms. 
,"copy" means a reproduction of a work in a written form, 
or in the form of a recording or film, or in any other 
material form, but an object shall not be taken to be a 
copy of av architectural work unless the object is a 
building or a model; , 
"derivative work" means a work resulting from adaptation, 
translation or other transformation i of an original 
work in so far as h: constitutes an independent creation; 
"distribution" for the purposes of section 9 of this Law 
. means any operation by which programme-carrying 
signals are transmitted 10 the general public or any 
section thereof; 
"distributor" for the purposes of section 9 of this Law 
means the person who decides that the distribution 
should take place; 
"'fixation" means the embodiment of images or sounds in a 
material form sufficiently permanent or stable to 
permit them robe perceived, reproduced or communi­
cated; 
'"folklore" means all literary, artistic and scientific work 
belonging to the cultural heritage of Ghana which 
Were created, preserved and developed by ethnic 
communities of Ghana or by unidentified Ghanaian 
authors, and any such works designated under this 
Law to be works of Ghanaian folklore; 
"literary work" includeir respective of literary quality, any 
of the following-
(a) novels, stories or poetical works; 
(b) plays, stage directions, film scenarios or 
broadcasting scripts; 
(c) textbooks, treaties,' histories, biographies, 
essays. or articles; 
(d) encyclopaedias, dictionaries, directories or 
anthologies; 
(e) letters, reports or memoranda; and 
(j) lectures, addresses or sermons; 
Hmusical work" includes any mU5ical work irrespective of 
its musical quality and words composed for musical 
accompaniment; 
"neighbouring rights" includes rights of, performing 
artistes in their performances, the rights of producers 
of phonograms in 1heir phonograms and the right:; of 
broadcasting organizations in their Radio aIld Tele-
vision programmes. . 
"performance" means the presentation of a work by such 
acHon as dancing, playing, reciting, singing, delivering, 
declaiming or projecting to listepets or spectators; IP/NI1!GHA!CII 
Page 24 
"performer" means the actor, dancer, declaimer, musician, 
singer or other person who performs a literary or 
artistic work and includes the conductor or director of 
a performance of any such work; 
"phonogram" means any exclusively aural fixation of 
sounds of a performance or of other sounds; 
"public performance" means the performance of a work 
which is presented to listeners or spectators not restric­
ted to specific persons belonging to-it private group and 
which exceeds the limits of usual domestic represen­
tations; 
"public place" means any building, plac€ or conveyance to 
which for the time being the public are entitled or 
permitted 1.'0 have access, either without any condi­
tion or upon condition of making any payment, and 
includes theatres, cruemas, concert halls, dance halls, 
bars, clubs, sports grounds, holiday resorts, circuses, 
restaurants and commercial, banking and industrial 
establishments; 
"programme-carrying signals" means electronically gene= 
rated carriers transmitting live or recorded material 
consisting of images, sounds or both, in their original 
form or any form recognisably derived from the origi-. 
naI, and emitted to or passing through a satellite 
situated in extra-terrestrial space; 
"Secretary" means the Provisional Nati0l1al Defence 
Council Secretary responsible for Information; 
"sound recording" means work that results from the 
fixation of a series of musical, spoken or other sound, 
but does no~ include sounds accompanying a motion 
picture or other audio-visual work regardless of the 
nature of the material objects in which those sounds 
are embodied; 
"work of joint authorship" means a work created by two 
or more authors in collaboration, in which the indivi­
dual contributions are indistinguishable from each 
other; 
54. The Copyright Act, 1961 (Act 85) is hereby repealed. RepeaL 
55. The repeal oftbe Copyright Act, 1961 (Act 85)shaU not affect Saving . 
. any copyright or other rights that were vested in any person by 
virtue of that Act, and any such rights shall continue to be enforce-
able as if they were conferred upon him under this Law. SCHEDULE fP/N/l/GHA/CI1 
Page 25 
COUNTRIES IN RESPECT OF WHICH WORKS ARE 
PROTECTED UNDER SECTION 48 (2) BEING PARTIES 
TO THE UNIVERSAL COPYRIGHT CONVENTION 
Algeria 
Andona 
. Argentina 
Australia 
Austria , 
Bahamas 
Bangladesh 
Belgium 
Brazil 
Bulgaria 
Cameroon 
Canada 
Chile 
Colombia 
Costa Rica 
Cuba 
Czechoslovakia 
Democratic ·Kampuchea 
Denmark 
Ecuador 
El Salvador 
Fiji 
Finland 
France 
German Democratic Republic 
Germany, Federal Republic of 
Greece 
Guatemala 
Guinea 
Haiti 
Holy See 
Hungary 
Iceland 
India Japan 
Kenya 
Laos 
Lebanon 
Liberia 
Liechtenstein 
Luxembourg 
Malawi 
Malta 
Mauritius 
Mexico Monaco 
Morocco 
Netherlands 
New Zealand 
Nicaragua 
Nigeria 
Pakistan 
Panama Paraguay 
Peru 
Philipines 
Poland 
Portugal 
Senegal 
Soviet 
Union 
~pain 
Sweden 
Switzerland 
Tunisia 
United Kingdom 
United States of America 
Venezuela 
Yugoslavia IP/NI1 IGFIA/C/! 
Page 26 
Ireland 
Israel 
Italy 
Norway Zambia 
Belize 
Dominican Republic 
Made this 21st day of March, 1985. 
FLT.-LT. JERRY JOHN RAWLINGS 
Chairman of the Provisional National Defence Council 
Date of Gazette notification: 21st June, 1985. 