The American Chamber of Commerce and the IP Network in Ghana will hold series of advocacy activities on Intellectual Property rights in Ghana. This decision was taken at a roundtable discussion held at the U.S. Embassy on Monday November 27, 2017 by the I.P committee of the Chamber, members of an independent organization called the I.P Network of Ghana, representatives from the Copyright and Industrial Design Sections of the Registrar General’s Department and a senior officer from the Commercial Crime Unit of the Ghana Police Service.

Chamber Members and other captains of industry also attended the meeting, which was to brain storm on ways to enhance the enforcement of I.P rights in the Country, following an earlier one held in April to mark World I.P Day. The meeting also concluded that the prevalence of I.P violations in the Country was high; leading to the closure of some companies, increase in money laundering activities and other commercial crimes.

The advocacy series will seek to educate the public through news briefs on the rights of I.P owners, the dangers especially the health and safety issues associated with dealing in counterfeit and pirated products, expose primary and secondary infringers and work with the law enforcement agencies to track the prosecution of I.P cases in the Country.

U.S. Senior Commercial Officer in Ghana, Tyrena Holley who hosted the meeting also said the U.S. has training programs for agents from the law enforcement agencies and requested that the agencies provide candidates to be enrolled in these program.