During the launch of the manifesto for The New Force Movement, Nana Kwame Bediako, also known as Cheddar, delivered a compelling and visionary speech that underscored the significance of upholding the rights of content creators in Ghana.
As the founder and leader of The New Force Movement, Cheddar articulated a comprehensive plan that emphasized the protection and empowerment of Ghana’s content creators. Central to Cheddar’s vision is a robust framework for safeguarding intellectual property (IP) rights and the establishment of supportive infrastructure for the creative industries in Ghana.
In his address, Cheddar articulated the existing inadequacies in the system, highlighting the ineffective collection of royalties due to the absence of a suitable framework.
He emphatically declared The New Force Movement’s commitment to constructing the necessary infrastructure to enforce the Publishing Act, a crucial step in preserving the intellectual property of content creators in the country.
Cheddar emphasized the urgency of protecting the rights of a diverse array of creators, including but not limited to bloggers, influencers, YouTubers, authors, painters, musicians, and software developers.
He underlined the imperative to secure their intellectual property, ensure the collection of royalties, and facilitate the circulation of revenue within the local economy. Moreover, Cheddar stressed the need for artists to retain ownership of their catalogues, preventing them from being commodified for patents. Going beyond IP protection, Cheddar put forth an ambitious proposal to establish a state-of-the-art studio in Ghana, positioning the country as a pivotal hub for African creativity.
He articulated his conviction that Ghana, renowned as the Black Star of Africa, should be the home of this studio, envisioning it as a beacon for creative arts on the continent.
Cheddar’s manifesto launch signals a bold and progressive leap for The New Force Movement, as it places the upliftment of the creative industries at the forefront of its agenda.
The proposed initiatives not only aim to protect the rights of content creators but also aspire to fortify Ghana’s economy by ensuring that royalties and creative outputs directly contribute to the nation’s prosperity.
Story by Obaapa Janee
