I didn’t know ‘sing-a-thon’ songs list was confidential – Rex Omar apologises amid backlash
The Chairman of the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO), Rex Omar, has issued an apology for sharing the list of songs intended for Afua Asantewaa’s attempt at a Guinness World Records (GWR) sing-a-thon.
In a Facebook Live session, Rex Omar clarified that he was unaware that the document containing the songs, submitted to his organization, was meant to be kept confidential.
“I don’t know anything about the project, whether the list of songs should be confidential or not. It wasn’t on the list they brought us. The person who brought it didn’t mention any specifics… I posted the first page before they called me to inform me that it should have been kept confidential”.
Rex Omar apologises to GWR sing-a-thon contender, Afua Asantewaa Aduonum.
— The Culture Joint (@CultureJoint) December 18, 2023
“So, I have deleted it. I am apologizing not because I’ve done anything wrong, but as the present leader of the institution, I want people to know that my intentions are clear,” he stated.
This incident occurred after Rex Omar shared a copy of the list of songs for the sing-a-thon on Facebook on Monday, December 18, which sparked criticism.
Afua, displeased with the decision to make the list public, responded to the Facebook post, stating, “This is supposed to be a confidential document for your outfit, so why make it public, Sir? This is not acceptable.”
Rex Omar had previously received mixed reviews from the public after requesting the list of songs.
Addressing the controversy surrounding the request, Rex Omar explained that GHAMRO did not aim to sabotage the project but rather intended to assist Afua Asantewaa and the organisers in meeting one of the requirements for her sing-a-thon.
The Guinness World Records, he explained, necessitates that all songs used in the project be cleared for copyright, and therefore, the request for the list was to identify tracks for which GHAMRO could help clear the copyright in advance of the event.
He clarified that despite Afua’s team’s promise to make the list available two weeks ago, it had not yet reached GHAMRO at the time he made the request.
“My intention or GHAMRO’s intention is clear. We don’t have any intention of attacking the project or making life difficult for her and her team. We don’t have any such interest. Our interest is to be sure that whatever she is about to do, she will not have any issues in relation to copyright.”