Legal experts are urging artists and creatives to prioritise legal counsel when entering contracts, warning that a single signature could have long-lasting consequences on their careers.
Speaking on a recent broadcast, private legal practitioner and independent artist Loretta Larbi stressed the importance of involving a lawyer from the outset. “Anybody who is involved in the creative arts industry must employ the services of a lawyer,” Larbi said. “There are technical terms that you might not understand. Lawyers are trained for these things, and they can review contracts for you.”
Larbi explained that contracts often involve ownership rights, intellectual property, and exclusive economic rights. “If a work has been commissioned, whoever owns the exclusive economic rights is entitled to control its use,” she said. “At the end of the day, you might be the talent, but you might just be a product.”
The lawyer warned that ignoring legal advice can lead to costly disputes. “A signature can cost you decades of your life,” Larbi said. “Many people delay engaging a lawyer until litigation arises, thinking they can save on fees. But in hindsight, paying a lawyer ten per cent of a contract’s value, for example, on a $100,000 deal could prevent far bigger losses and headaches later.”
Larbi urged artists to view legal support as an investment rather than an expense. “Allow the lawyer to do due diligence on your behalf,” she said. “Everything they do is intangible, it’s their expertise and advice. Pay them their due, and you save yourself bruhaha down the line.”
Legal practitioners note that Ghana’s creative sector is growing rapidly, with more artists signing deals with management companies, labels, and sponsors. Experts say that understanding the legal implications of contracts, including intellectual property rights and licensing, is essential to protecting both creative and financial interests.
Larbi concluded with a cautionary note to emerging and established artists alike: “Never underestimate the power of a signature. Protect your work, protect your career, and always work with a lawyer.”