The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) claims that it requested permission before utilizing portions of “Guda” in the “Visit Ghana” ad through a “bespoke creative firm,” to which rapper and singer Kirani Ayat has responded.
The publication was made by the outfit on September 28 on Instagram.
President Akufo-Addo used video from his “Guda” music video in a tourist promotion published on his social media accounts.
See Video Here
Kirani Ayat expressed his displeasure at having his work used without his permission, noting that he spent money creating the film alone without assistance from anybody else and did not receive payment after it was utilized.
Reacting to the statement, Kirani Ayat responded to the Authority with a press release.
“I would like to categorically state that NO agency has any RIGHTS whatsoever to my intellectual property,” he said.
The rapper emphasized that he had not granted the group any permission to utilize his video for promotional purposes.
“I [Kirani Ayat] have NOT given rights to any agency to use my likeness or work on my behalf.”
The message went on to emphasize that the Ghana Tourism Authority had not disclosed the agency’s identity.
The letter ended by warning the group to disclose the identity of the agency and the signed contracts that formalize the arrangement with the Ghana Tourism Authority.
This comes after rapper Kirani Ayat criticized the government for appropriating parts of his music video, GUDA, without the rapper’s or the music video director, David Nicol-Sey, seeking permission.
Rapper, Sarkodie has thrown his weight behind Kirani Ayat in the latter’s bid to get the Ministry of Tourism and the Ghana Tourism Authority to compensate him for using his content without consent.
Sarkodie pointed out in a tweet that artists put in a lot of effort to market the nation to tourists and investors without any assistance from the government.
“We (creatives) do a lot to put our country out there, attracting a lot of tourists and investors that translates to money to help nation building yet that’s one sector with no support… I feel my brother and support him especially if he actually reached out and didn’t get help,” he wrote.
In a Rather Strange Turn of Events…
In a rather strange twist of events, Ayat Kirani has also been charged with copyright infringement by the Ghana Tourism Authority for exploiting key national symbols in his music video without getting approval from the authorities.
“If we are going by copyright, then @kiraniayat has to pull his GUDA video down from YouTube. He used certain elements in the video without permission from the Folklore Board. He needs permission from the National Folklore Board,“
Kwasi Agyemang, the Ghana Tourism Authority CEO said on Hitz FM.
He added that “the GUDA video, before God and Man, I saw it for the first time on Tuesday. We didn’t pick the video from YouTube. We got the raw footage from the agency“. According to him, he “will not let this slide” because he “cannot let people continue to disrespect State institutions“.
Watch GUDA Video Here
Anita Zuuri
Annie is an entertainment and lifestyle writer. She enjoys reading and writing about music, celebrities and their lifestyles, food, cars and tech.