Bnoskka Commemorates 8th World IP Day with Public Lecture: Advancing Ghana’s IP Conversation
For the eighth consecutive year, Bnoskka, a leading voice in intellectual property advocacy and creative industry development, successfully hosted its annual World IP Day Public Lecture.
Since its inaugural edition in 2019, the lecture has grown into a premier platform for shaping Ghana’s IP discourse, and the 2026 edition proved to be the most impactful yet.
The event took place at Marshall University College, Accra, drawing a diverse audience of students, legal practitioners, creative industry professionals, policymakers, and the general public. It was broadcasted live on Max TV and Max FM, extending its reach far beyond the lecture hall.
The lecture was chaired by Mr. Carl Ampah, UNESCO Representative, who delivered both the opening and closing remarks. In his address, Mr. Ampah commended Dr. Benjamin Oduro Arhin (aka Bnoskka) for his unwavering commitment to IP awareness, particularly noting Dr. Oduro Arhin’s weekly media engagements on IP subjects.
“What Dr. Oduro Arhin is doing, week after week, year after year is a true reflection of how passion can transform intellectual property discourse in Ghana. His initiative is not just timely; it is essential,” Mr. Ampah stated.
Mr. Ampah also spoke extensively on UNESCO’s role in the intersection of IP and sports, emphasizing the need for Ghana to align with global standards in protecting creative and athletic expressions.
Since 2019, Bnoskka’s annual IP lecture has evolved from a niche legal gathering into a national movement. The 8th edition examined critical issues including athlete image rights, broadcasting and media rights, content ownership, merchandising, and digital opportunities within Ghana’s evolving sports and creative ecosystem.
Lawyer Bernard Bosumprah, former Administrator of the Copyright Office, delivered a masterclass on the legislative history of copyright in Ghana. He traced the journey from the UK Copyright Ordinance Act (colonial era), through the 1960 Kwame Nkrumah Copyright Act, to the PNDC Law 110 of 1985, and finally to the current Act 690 of 2005 – which was passed just before he left office. He candidly shared the challenges associated with copyright enactment in Ghana, including political interference, lack of stakeholder consensus, and enforcement gaps that persist today.
Mr. Samuel Awuku, representing the current Acting Administrator of the Copyright Office, outlined recent steps taken by the office, notably the establishment of a police station within the Copyright Office to aid enforcement. However, he also revealed the severe financial constraints hampering the office’s effective operation, calling for increased government funding and private sector support.
In a poignant segment of his keynote, Dr. Arhin addressed the peril of unsolicited idea submissions. A legal grey area where creators share concepts with large organisations without protection, often leading to exploitation.
He cited the painful case of a Ghanaian, Mr. John Amoah, who conceived and submitted the “Golden Goal” rule idea to FIFA years ago. The rule where a match ends immediately when a goal is scored in extra time was later adopted by FIFA without any acknowledgment or compensation to Mr. Amoah.
“John Amoah lost his patent idea simply because he submitted it without a non-disclosure agreement or a registered patent. FIFA used his brainchild, changed the complexion of World Cup finals, and Mr. Amoah saw nothing. No credit. No royalty,” Dr. Arhin lamented.
Although the Golden Goal rule has since been abolished by FIFA, Dr. Arhin argued that the moral and economic debt remains unpaid. He made a direct appeal: “I call on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Even if FIFA will not honour him, let Ghana honour its own. Let us give Mr. John Amoah a national recognition for an idea that once changed the very fabric of football.”
The audience responded with sustained applause, recognising a rare moment where an IP lecture turned into a plea for national restitution.
Dr. Arhin then systematically dismantled the notion that intellectual property is only for musicians or authors. He explained the five major types of IP patents, copyright, trademarks, industrial designs, and trade secrets and demonstrated how each one is woven into the business and practice of sports.
Using a broad sweep of disciplines, he declared: “There is no modern sport without IP. It is the foundation upon which the game is built.”
The event saw strong representation from key creative industry bodies:
- MUSIGA (Musicians Union of Ghana) – represented by Rev. Eddie Eyison, National Treasurer
- Actors Guild of Ghana – represented by James Clerk (popularly known as Alafia)
- GHAMRO (Ghana Music Rights Organization)
- ARSOG (Artistes and Repertoire Society of Ghana)
- CopyGhana
However, despite extended invitations, the following organizations were unable to send representatives:
- Ministry of Sports
- Ghana Football Association (GFA)
- Creative Arts Agency
Their absence was noted by attendees as a gap in the national dialogue, especially given the lecture’s focus on sports and IP.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) used his song without permission. Although he won the case at the High Court, he has still not received the awarded compensation years later. His story highlighted the gap between legal victory and actual enforcement.
John Amoah shared his invention of the “Golden Goal Rule” – a concept he unsolicitedly submitted to FIFA. FIFA later implemented the rule without any recognition, credit, or award to him. His story underscored the vulnerability of unsolicited ideas and the need for formal protection mechanisms even for informal inventors.
Students of Marshall University College posed insightful questions, particularly on fashion design and trademark protection – an area of growing interest among young creatives in Ghana. The interactive session demonstrated that the next generation is eager to understand how IP applies to their commercial ambitions.
The event was chaired by Mr. Carl Ampah, representing the UNESCO Accra Office. In his address, Mr. Ampah unveiled UNESCO’s growing focus on the “non-physical assets” of sports.
“When we speak of sport, we speak of passion, identity, and massive economies. But UNESCO recognises that behind every iconic match is an iconic logo; behind every tournament is a broadcasting right; behind every athlete is a brand,” Mr. Ampah stated.
He detailed how UNESCO supports the game through three specific pillars:
Legal framework assistance – Helping member states like Ghana develop laws that protect sports broadcasting rights from piracy.
Educational programmes – Funding initiatives that help athletes understand NIL rights (Name, Image, and Likeness).
International Fund for Cultural Diversity – Supporting projects that map out traditional sports and games, ensuring their IP is not exploited without community consent.
Mr. Ampah also responded to student concerns by suggesting that fashion designers document their creations via digital ledgers timestamped on UNESCO’s partner platforms.
Mr. Samuel Awuku, representative of the Copyright Office Administrator (who served as Co-Chair of the event), used the platform to address the bureaucratic fears surrounding IP registration.
“Many creators believe the Copyright Office is merely a punitive body. That is false,” Mr. Awuku said. He revealed that the office has established a “Creators Support Desk” that operates on a pro-bono advisory basis for individuals who approach them.
“If you walk into our office with a script, a musical score, or a fashion sketch, we do not just register it. We connect you with legal aid for cease-and-desist letters. We mediate disputes before they go to court. We are trying to build a safety net,” he added, acknowledging that budget constraints still limit their public outreach.
He encouraged creators especially students and upcoming musicians to visit the Copyright Office at the initial stage of their work, rather than waiting for infringement to occur.
The lecture took a dramatic turn when veteran sports broadcaster and creative Mr. Darkwa Nkrumah (popularly known as Kobby Spikey) took the microphone. He detailed a harrowing experience with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Mr. Nkrumah alleged that CAF used his original musical composition as a backing track for a major continental tournament without a licence. Despite securing a judgment in his favour at the High Court, he lamented that CAF has refused to pay the awarded damages.
“I have the judgment. The court said they infringed. Yet, CAF an organisation that generates millions in broadcasting rights, refuses to pay me a dime for my intellectual sweat. The legal hassle has drained me. Winning the case means nothing if you cannot enforce the payment,” he fumed, drawing murmurs of solidarity from the audience.
His testimony exposed a critical gap in Ghana’s IP enforcement machinery regarding international corporate bodies, and several attendees called for the government to use diplomatic or continental legal channels to compel compliance.
The event saw a rare convergence of industry leadership:
Rev. Eddie Eyison (National Treasurer) represented the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA).
Mr. James Clerk (aka Alafia) stood for the Actors Guild.
Collective management organisations CopyGhana, GHAMRO, and ARSOG were all present, signalling a united front.
In a symbolic gesture bridging modernity and tradition, the Paramount Chief of Tsiame Traditional Area, His Majesty Torbgega Doe Dallah III, graced the occasion. The Chief urged the government to treat IP theft as economic sabotage, drawing traditional applause.
Former Copyright Administrator Lawyer Bernard T. Bosumprah, the architect behind the current Copyright Act 2005 (Act 690), was honoured for his legacy. His work, attendees noted, remains the bedrock of Ghana’s IP legal framework.
Mr. Michael Bamfo (CEO, Apprise Music) and Mr. Kofi Obuobi (Programs Manager, Max TV/Max FM) reaffirmed the media’s role in amplifying the IP conversation. Mr. Obuobi pledged that Max TV and Max FM would continue to provide platforms for such educational content free of charge.
Numerous questions and remarks from the floor gave a very positive impression of the effectiveness of the annual IP Public Lecture. Attendees praised the balance of historical legal education, current policy challenges, and real-life horror stories of IP theft. The partnership with Max TV, Apprise Music, and the Creative Arts Agency(among others) helped amplify the message.
Mr. Carl Ampah, in his closing remarks, reiterated UNESCO’s commitment to supporting such initiatives and encouraged Dr. Oduro Arhin to expand the lecture to other regions of Ghana. He also praised the live broadcast partnership, noting that media collaboration is key to democratizing IP knowledge.
The successful completion of Bnoskka’s 8th World IP Day Public Lecture since 2019 is a testament to the power of sustained advocacy. From the chairmanship of Mr. Carl Ampah to the historical insights of Lawyer Bernard Bosumprah, the enforcement realities shared by Mr. Samuel Awuku, and the painful but necessary testimonies of Kobby Spikey and John Amoah – the 8th edition left no stone unturned.
As Dr. Benjamin Oduro Arhin and the Bnoskka team look toward the 9th edition, one thing is certain: the IP conversation in Ghana is no longer a whisper. It is a loud, growing, and transformative national dialogue.
