News
27th TGMA Music Summit: Stakeholders talk brands, contracts and music business
Over 230 artistes, managers, music executives, media practitioners, legal professionals, aspiring music professionals and creative entrepreneurs converged at the British Council in Accra for the 27th Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) Music Summit, a high-impact industry engagement designed to equip Ghana’s music community with practical knowledge to build sustainable and successful careers.
Held in commemoration of World Music Day, the 27th Telecel Ghana Music Awards Music Summit brought together some of the industry’s most respected voices to discuss two critical pillars of today’s music business: brand endorsements and music contracts.
Opening the Summit, Robert Klah, TGMA Lead and Head of Public Events and Communications at Charterhouse, welcomed participants and highlighted the purpose of the gathering.
He emphasised the importance of creating platforms that go beyond celebrating musical excellence to strengthen the business and professional capacity of industry stakeholders.
He noted that while talent remains the foundation of success, knowledge, strategic partnerships and legal awareness are increasingly becoming the differentiators in today’s music ecosystem.
The Summit also created valuable networking opportunities, enabling artistes, managers, music business professionals, media practitioners and other stakeholders to connect, exchange ideas and explore potential collaborations.
The Summit also received strong endorsement from the leadership of the music industry. Delivering a solidarity message, MUSIGA President and renowned highlife musician, Bessa Simons, commended Charterhouse for creating platforms that contribute to the professional development of musicians and music stakeholders.
He encouraged emerging artistes and young music professionals to actively participate in educational initiatives such as music business seminars and industry workshops, stressing that knowledge remains one of the most valuable assets for building a successful and sustainable career.
Bessa Simons further called for deeper collaboration between event organisers and industry associations, emphasizing the important role collective effort plays in advancing the interests of musicians and strengthening Ghana’s music ecosystem.
The first session focused on one of the most important yet often misunderstood revenue streams available to artistes and creatives: brand endorsements.
Leading the conversation was Mariam K. A-Buahin, Chief Operating Officer of Akuna Group, who brings over eighteen years of experience in marketing and brand management across multiple industries.
Her presentation, “Brand Endorsements: What Companies Look For,” provided participants with a deeper understanding of how brands evaluate potential ambassadors and partners.
She explored the importance of personal branding, audience alignment, credibility, consistency, professionalism, values and long-term influence.
The session underscored an important reality within today’s music industry: as music consumption patterns evolve, endorsement deals have become a significant source of income for artistes.
To successfully attract and retain corporate partnerships, artistes and music professionals must understand exactly what brands seek before committing their resources and reputation to a partnership.
The presentation was followed by an engaging question-and-answer session during which participants sought practical guidance on positioning themselves for brand opportunities and building mutually beneficial relationships with corporate organizations.
The second half of the Summit shifted focus to music contracts, an area that continues to have a profound impact on the careers and livelihoods of musicians and creatives.
The session began with an overview of the music business and the role of contracts by Grammy-recognized creative entrepreneur and music business executive Kofi Boachie Ansah, who provided participants with a foundational understanding of how contractual agreements govern relationships across the music value chain.
Award-winning entertainment entrepreneur and Founder and CEO of Lynx Group, Richie Mensah, followed with a presentation exploring seven key contract areas every artiste and music professional should understand.
Drawing from his personal experiences building one of Ghana’s most successful entertainment companies, he illustrated how contracts influence artist development, business growth and long-term success.
Entertainment lawyer Bobby Banson then highlighted critical issues that creatives must examine before signing any agreement. His presentation reinforced the importance of due diligence, legal representation, ownership rights, obligations, termination clauses and intellectual property protections.
Throughout the session, one message remained clear: the legal system is ultimately what protects the work of musicians and creative professionals. Without a proper understanding of contractual terms and obligations, artistes risk signing away rights, revenue opportunities and control over their creative output.
The contracts conversation culminated in an insightful panel discussion moderated by respected arts and culture journalist Kwame Dadzie of Joy FM and Hitz FM.
The panel featured an accomplished group of industry experts, including Seven Xavier (George O. Yartey), Music Executive and Industry Strategist; Patrick Tetteh Odestsi, Legal Practitioner and Contract Law Expert; Daniel Ahenkorah (Yaw Dan), A&R and Music Licensing Specialist; Khadijat El-Alawa, Music Executive and Talent Strategist; and Emmanuel Sedo (Electro Mirror), Founder and CEO of Flip The Music.
Together, they unpacked practical issues relating to contract negotiations, music licensing, rights management, publishing, talent development, artiste performance and navigating the evolving realities of the music business.
Their diverse perspectives provided attendees with a rare opportunity to engage directly with professionals whose experience spans legal practice, talent management, licensing, strategy and music entrepreneurship.
Music, Recognition and Celebration
Adding to the vibrant atmosphere was a musical interlude by emerging Alternative Hiphop and Pop artiste Elsie Raad, whose performance provided another reminder of the exciting new talent emerging within Ghana’s music landscape.
The Summit also featured the presentation of commemorative plaques to winners of the 27th Telecel Ghana Music Awards who were present, recognizing their achievements and contributions to Ghanaian music.
As the day’s discussions concluded, attendees continued networking over refreshments courtesy of Guinness Ghana, rounding off an event defined by knowledge-sharing, collaboration and professional growth.
Beyond the presentations and performances, the 27th TGMA Music Summit reinforced the growing importance of music business education in Ghana’s creative economy.
By creating a platform where emerging talents can learn directly from accomplished professionals, the Summit continues to bridge the gap between creativity and commerce, helping artistes and industry practitioners make informed decisions that protect their careers and unlock new opportunities.
Produced by Charterhouse with support from British Council, Closeup, Guinness Ghana and TV3, and powered by Telecel Ghana under its inspiring brand promise, “Connecting Energies,” the 27th TGMA Music Summit once again demonstrated that the future of Ghanaian music will be shaped not only by artistic excellence, but also by knowledge, strategic partnerships, legal awareness and strong industry collaboration.
As the conversations sparked during the Summit continue beyond the event, participants left with new insights, stronger networks and a renewed appreciation for the business structures that support successful music careers.
From understanding what brands seek in potential ambassadors to learning how contracts can protect—or potentially compromise—creative rights, attendees were reminded that success in today’s music industry requires both talent and informed decision-making.
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced the commencement of enforcement of the National Identity Register (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2523), warning institutions that fail to comply with the new requirements of possible fines of up to 2,000 penalty units.
The Authority says it will deploy a Biometric Verification Implementation Task Force to inspect institutions and ensure they comply with the regulations, following the expiration of a three-month grace period granted to businesses and public institutions.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, November 2, 2026, the NIA’s Corporate Affairs representative, William Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas, said the Authority had completed its public education and stakeholder engagement activities and was now moving into the enforcement and compliance monitoring phase.
He explained that the regulations require institutions that verify the identities of customers or applicants as part of their operations to use the NIA’s approved biometric verification platform instead of relying solely on visual inspection of the Ghana Card.
Under the new rules, institutions are prohibited from photocopying, scanning or keeping copies of the Ghana Card for identity verification purposes.
Mr Darlas stressed that simply collecting a customer’s Ghana Card, looking at the photograph and comparing it with the person presenting it would no longer be accepted as a valid method of identity verification.
He, however, clarified that the Ghana Card remains the country’s official national identity document and that citizens are not required to register for a new card or capture their biometrics again under the new regulations.
He said the new system is intended to reduce identity fraud, impersonation and other crimes by ensuring that the person presenting the Ghana Card is the actual owner.
According to him, the biometric verification process will rely on information already captured during Ghana Card registration, including fingerprints, iris details and facial features stored in the card’s chip.
Mr Darlas warned institutions against using third-party companies or individuals to access the NIA’s identity verification platform, insisting that the Authority does not work with intermediaries.
He said institutions seeking access to the National Identity Register must deal directly with the NIA and complete its official onboarding process.
The process requires institutions to prove that they are legally registered companies in Ghana, obtain certification from the Data Protection Commission and work with the NIA’s technical team to establish the necessary connection to its platform.
He further cautioned institutions already connected to the platform against subletting their access to other businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.
He disclosed that the Authority had received reports of some institutions providing their verification services to other businesses without the NIA’s approval and warned that those involved would face legal action.
Mr Darlas said organisations that fail to comply with L.I. 2523 could face fines ranging from 500 to 2,000 penalty units, depending on the nature of the offence.
He explained that the NIA does not have the authority to impose the fines directly but would take offenders to court for the appropriate punishment.
He indicated that Institutions found guilty could also face additional administrative measures, including being barred from accessing the NIA’s verification platform in the future.
The NIA representative further clarified that the new regulations do not prohibit all institutions from physically using the Ghana Card during transactions.
The Managing Director of the Ghana Publishing Company Limited, Nana Kwesi Boatey, has revealed how he transformed a major overstaffing challenge into a success story through the government’s 24-Hour Economy initiative.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, November 2, Mr. Boatey disclosed that when he assumed office in February 2025, and inherited a bloated workforce of 250 employees doing work that could be efficiently handled by 150 people, a situation that created serious liquidity challenges for the state-owned company.
Instead of resorting to downsizing, he adopted an innovative approach by instituting a 24-hour operational system.
Under the new system, staff were redistributed across three shifts: 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., and 10 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.
This not only ensured optimal use of labour but also maximized machine utilization and improved overall output.
According to him, the single move redefined the productivity culture within the company, reinforcing discipline, accountability, and efficiency.
The Ghana Publishing Company’s turnaround is being cited as a practical example of how the 24-Hour Economy policy can drive growth without job losses.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
