Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Murtala Mohammed has weighed in on Kirani Ayat’s copyright case against Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA ) and Tourism Ministry urging the musician not to relent on filing a lawsuit against the two entities.
The Ghana Tourism Authority has dismissed claims that aspects of the footage used for the new tourism promotional video featuring President Akufo-Addo were pirated as alleged by the GUDA hitmaker.
In a press statement, the Authority stated that they procured the footage Kirani Ayat is claiming ownership of legitimately from a creative agency in 2019 as part of a project.
“This video has thus been played several times locally and internationally without any issue. The content was used in accordance with the terms agreed with the agency and not as being alleged,” the statement said.
Commenting on the development on GH Today on GHOne TV the Tamale Central lawmaker contended that the issue of people stealing the intellectual property of others in the country is getting out of hand, and government must face the music for similar copyright infringement.
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“What is the difference between someone who creates a Facebook account in your name when in actual fact you have no idea whatsoever about that account duping people and what the President has done?
“Instead of them humbling themselves and apologizing to the gentleman; having a seat with the gentleman, take a coffee, and I believe if the gentleman is a Northerner at least take some TZ or afternoon Koko and Koose with the gentleman, they are showing that arrogance.
“And the sad part of it is that the minister for Tourism, particularly the Deputy Minister who has been a player in this creative industry for a very long time, who prior to his appointment was pretending to be defending the intellectual property and rights of people in this country, he himself is condoning with what has happened. This is embarrassing, this is shameful and infact the gentleman should sue them.”
