Copyright Law in Ghana: Protection for Creative Businesses

If you create original content — music, writing, film, photography, software, art — Ghanaian law protects it automatically through copyright. Unlike trademarks, you don't need to register to own copyright. But understanding your rights, how long they last, and how to enforce them is critical for any creative business in Ghana.

The Legal Framework

Copyright in Ghana is governed by the Copyright Act, 2005 (Act 690). Ghana is also a signatory to the Berne Convention, meaning your copyright is internationally recognised in member countries (over 170 countries).

What Does Copyright Protect?

• Literary works: books, articles, poems, lyrics, code, scripts
• Musical works: compositions and arrangements
• Sound recordings: recorded versions of music and other audio
• Artistic works: paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures
• Films and audiovisual works
• Broadcasts
• Computer programs
• Databases (where original in selection or arrangement)

What is NOT protected: Ideas, concepts, procedures, methods, facts, news. Copyright protects expression — not the underlying idea.

How Long Does Copyright Last?

• Literary, musical, and artistic works: Life of the author + 70 years
• Sound recordings and films: 70 years from creation
• Broadcasts: 20 years from broadcast

After expiry, works enter the public domain — anyone can use them freely.

The Ghana Copyright Office (GHACOP)

While copyright is automatic, the Ghana Copyright Office (GHACOP) maintains a voluntary registration system. Registration provides:

• A public record of your ownership
• Evidence in infringement disputes
• A dated record of creation

Registration fee: GHS 50–300 depending on work category. Worth doing for significant commercial works.

Licencing Your Copyright

You can licence others to use your work:

• Exclusive licence: Only the licensee can use the work in the specified way
• Non-exclusive licence: You can grant the same rights to multiple licensees
• Assignment: You permanently transfer the copyright to another person

Licences for significant works should be in writing and specify: what rights are granted, the territory (Ghana, worldwide), the duration, and the fee/royalty.

Moral Rights

Act 690 gives authors moral rights in addition to economic rights:

• Right to be identified as the author
• Right to object to derogatory treatment of the work

Moral rights cannot be sold or assigned — they remain with the author even if copyright is transferred.

Copyright Infringement

Infringement occurs when someone uses a protected work without permission in a way that falls within the copyright owner's exclusive rights. Remedies include:

• Injunction (court order to stop the infringement)
• Damages (compensation for loss caused)
• Account of profits (handing over the infringer's profits)
• Delivery up or destruction of infringing copies
• Criminal prosecution for commercial infringement

Use our free Business Structure Finder to register your creative business. Read about trademark registration for your brand name.