Ghanaian musician Chymny Crane says his 2012 song Ohier Hor was used in Shirley Frimpong Manso’s movie Contract without his approval, a situation he describes as a clear breach of his copyright.
Speaking on Hitz FM’s Daybreak Hitz with Doreen Avio and Kwame Dadzie, the rapper said the track, released in 2012, appeared in the film without any authorisation from him. Contract, which was also released in 2012, stars Yvonne Okoro, Hlomla Dandala and Joseph Benjamin.
The film follows a businessman who wants a child but intends to avoid marriage, so he contracts a woman to have a baby for him. It earned several Africa Movie Academy Award nominations and later won at the 2014 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards, including Best Movie.
While recounting the incident, Chymny Crane said people often disregard creatives in Ghana.
“My stuff was used illegally. Shirley Frimpong Manso used my content ‘Ohier Hor’ in her movie ‘Contract.’ And when they were scoring the names, you didn’t see Chimny Crane there but e be my song dem play. They mention ‘Chymny Crane in the building’ in the song.”
He revealed that when he sought advice, some individuals discouraged him from pursuing legal action because of the costs involved. According to him, a few even suggested he should be grateful his song had been featured in the movie.
Chymny Crane particularly noted that he had been taken for granted many times and had picked up important lessons from such experiences.
He has, meanwhile, released a 10-track album titled Diamond in the Dirt, available on streaming platforms.