Entertainment
Lali X Lola urge government to protect Ghanaian Artists’ international royalties
Ghanaian music duo Lali X Lola have officially submitted a formal request to the Minister of Finance and Parliament, calling on government to take action to protect the international earnings of local artistes.
In their letter, the sisters — Patricia Delali Dake (Lali) and Trysha Wolali Dake (Lola) appealed to authorities to begin bilateral negotiations with key music and streaming territories such as the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union states.
The goal, they said, is to secure tax waivers or treaties that prevent double taxation on royalties earned by Ghanaian artists abroad.
They also proposed the creation of a national framework to help track, recover, and repatriate withheld funds owed to Ghanaian creatives.
According to them, such a framework would ensure that recovered royalties are used transparently to support artist welfare, intellectual property protection, and the growth of the creative industry.
Lali X Lola further suggested the establishment of a Creative Revenue Recovery Mechanism, which would involve collaboration among collection management organizations, record labels, and publishers to ensure that any reclaimed funds are distributed fairly.
They believe this initiative would not only recover lost earnings and foreign exchange but also strengthen Ghana’s position as a leader in protecting creative labor and promoting its cultural economy.
“We remain ready to provide our research findings and collaborate with your offices to support policy formulation, stakeholder engagement, and international coordination toward this goal,” the duo stated.
The letter was copied to Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, and Hon. Samuel Nartey George (MP), Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations.
The duo shared the development with fans through a post on their official Instagram page, @lalixlolaofficial.
“We’ve officially submitted a formal request to the Minister of Finance and Parliament calling for Ghana to negotiate tax treaties that protect our artists’ international royalties” they wrote
By: Jacob Aggrey
Entertainment
Sparqlyn reminisces as he congratulates Shatta Wale for winning two awards at 43rd IRAWMA
Ghanaian musician and former member of musicial gorup, Dunsin, Ahmmed Kanneh Larweh, popularly known as Sparqlyn, has congratulated Ghanaian music heavyweight, Shatta Wale following his impressive double victory at the International Reggae and World Music Awards.
Shatta Wale recently made headlines after winning two major awards at the prestigious event held in Florida, USA, securing Best African Dancehall Entertainer and Concert of the Year for ShattaFest.
Reacting to the achievement, Sparqlyn could not hide his excitement after sighting news of the awards on Monday, May 18, 2025.
According to him, the one thing that caught his attention was the plaque presented to Shatta Wale. He noted that the design looked strikingly similar to the one Dunsin received when they won at the MUSA Awards over a decade ago.
The resemblance, especially the upper part of the plaque, instantly brought back memories of his former group’s historic moment on the African stage 13 years ago when the group represented Ghana proudly in South Africa.
It will be recalled that back in 2013, Dunsin achieved international recognition after winning Most Exciting Group in Africa and Most African Video at the MUSA Awards held in Pretoria, South Africa. The awards came on the back of their global hit project “Ɔyɛadeɛyie,” a song that helped elevate the group’s profile beyond Ghana.
At the time, Sparqlyn, then known by many as Kele within the group, was the one who represented Dunsin at the event to pick up the award.
Ghanaian dancehall artiste Charles Nii Armah Mensah, known as Shatta Wale, has won two awards at the 43rd International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA) held in Florida over the weekend.
He picked up the Best African Dancehall Entertainer award as well as Concert of the Year for ShattaFest.
In a statement, Shatta Wale’s management expressed appreciation to the organisers and supporters of the awards.
“Management would like to sincerely appreciate the organisers of the IRAWMA awards for the recognition and continuous support for African music on the global stage.
“We also extend our deepest gratitude to fans across the world, especially the Shatta Movement fraternity, for their unwavering support, votes, and dedication throughout the years,” the statement said.
The statement added that the latest wins reaffirm the artiste’s position as one of Africa’s leading musical exports and a prominent figure in global dancehall culture.
The awards bring Shatta Wale’s total haul at the IRAWMA to 11, highlighting his continued presence on the international reggae and dancehall scene.
At last year’s edition, he won three awards: Best African Dancehall Entertainer, Best Music Video for “Killa Ji Mi”, and Best Crossover Song for “Commando” featuring Bounty Killer. -GNA
