Experts have identified harmonisation of copyright laws, innovation, and infrastructure development as key drivers for strengthening Africa’s creative economies.
The remarks were made during the “Advancing Inclusive Copyright Regime for Africa’s Benefit” webinar, held to mark Africa Copyright and Collective Management (ACCM) Day. Speakers included Joseph B. Gyamfi, executive director of Copy Ghana; David Jeng, founder and CEO of Bliss Executives, The Gambia; and Lynda Alphaeus, director of the Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC) and intellectual property consultant.
While acknowledging progress by individual African countries in improving intellectual property (IP) laws, the experts agreed that differences in national copyright frameworks, inadequate infrastructure, and weak political will hinder the continent from fully leveraging IP policies to boost economic growth.
Jeng highlighted infrastructural challenges, noting that only 38% of Africans have internet access and 46% have electricity. “If you don’t have access to electricity, you don’t have access to the internet. We need to address the root causes of these infrastructural challenges,” he said. He also urged African governments to engage with international organisations like the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) to strengthen IP enforcement and development.
Alphaeus stressed the importance of harmonising copyright laws and Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) across Africa. “We need standardised policies, uniform copyright exceptions, and cooperation in enforcement. Harmonising CMOs’ best practices enhances collaboration and Africa’s bargaining power, while curbing piracy,” he said. He added that leveraging frameworks such as ARIPO, WIPO, and the AU Agenda 2063 can keep copyright terms updated and aligned with digital realities.
Gyamfi underscored the role of CMOs in aggregating data, securing creators’ consent, and facilitating royalty distribution. However, he noted that African CMOs are often underfunded and overregulated, limiting their effectiveness. Jeng added that connecting CMOs to tax channels and adopting technology for royalty payments could improve transparency and revenue for creatives.
The ACCM webinar serves as a precursor to the 6th Africa IP Summit, scheduled for November 12–14, 2025, in Dakar, Senegal.