By Dominic Hlordzi
His Lordship Justice Dr. Poku Adusei, a Justice of the Court of Appeal, has called on copyright owners and collective management organisations (CMOs) to take bold legal action against institutions and individuals who repeatedly reproduce protected works without permission.
Speaking at a national copyright workshop held on 19th November 2025 at the KNUST Library Mall in Kumasi, Justice Adusei said unlawful photocopying, scanning, downloading, and digital distribution of learning materials have become “widespread and systemic” across Ghana’s tertiary institutions.
The workshop was organised by CopyGhana in partnership with the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO) and the KNUST Library, attracting more than 200 participants from academia, publishing, policymaking, and international copyright bodies.
“The law must be tested,” Justice Adusei warned.
Delivering the keynote address, Justice Adusei stressed that although access to learning materials is essential, Ghana’s copyright law requires that writers and publishers receive fair compensation for their creative work.
He cautioned that institutions that refuse to comply with copyright licensing requirements are exposing themselves to potential lawsuits, adding:
“The law is clear, and where needed, it must be tested. Copyright holders should not hesitate to assert their rights.”
Justice Adusei highlighted findings from a major research project he led under the internationally funded Access to Knowledge (A2K) initiative, covering several African countries. The study revealed that:
Copyright infringement within universities is pervasive
Much of the material used by students is reproduced without authorization
Campus photocopy operators contribute significantly to illegal duplication
Weak institutional oversight has normalized copyright abuse
He argued that collective licensing with CMOs like CopyGhana remains the most practical way to ensure authors are paid while students retain access to essential learning materials.
A panel of experts from academia and the creative sector echoed the call for stronger copyright compliance. Panelists included Dr. Lucy Ry-Kottoh, Senior Lecturer, KNUST; Mr. Richard Obeng Mensah, Lawyer and Lecturer, KNUST; Dr. Wale Okediran, Secretary-General, PAWA; and Mr. Ernest Oppong, Executive Director, APNET.
They emphasized that universities must not view copyright compliance as a barrier to learning but as a means of creating a sustainable knowledge ecosystem.
According to the panel, collective licensing offers multiple benefits, including legal reproduction of reasonable portions of works, protection against the exploitation of authors, predictable revenue for publishers and writers, and stronger respect for intellectual property.
The workshop also benefited from international contributions. Mr. Olav Stokmo, former CEO of IFRRO, shared global best practices in collective rights management.
Presenters from the UK’s Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) and the USA’s Copyright Clearance Center (CCC)—James Bennett and Victoriano Colodron—discussed how artificial intelligence is transforming the reproduction and sharing of creative works.
They called for transparent data systems and modern licensing models to ensure copyright remains protected in the AI era.
Participants concluded that Ghana must urgently strengthen copyright education, enforce compliance in tertiary institutions, and ensure CMOs and rights-holders confidently defend their legal rights when infringed.
CopyGhana, IFRRO, and the KNUST Library pledged to deepen collaboration to promote fair, transparent, and efficient rights management across the country.
