Apprise Music’s Grace Nyele Mensah Leads Global Music Publishing at MaMa Convention

Grace Nyele Mensah, Operations and Music Publishing Lead at Ghana’s Apprise Music, represented the West African nation at the 2024 MaMA Music Convention & Festival in Paris, France, as part of a delegation of music publishing professionals. The trip, fully funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) in collaboration with Ghana’s Creative Arts Agency (CAA), underscores growing efforts to strengthen ties between Francophone and African creative sectors.

Mensah’s participation aligns with MaMA’s mission to spotlight emerging global talent, with 120 artists worldwide selected to perform for international music professionals, media, and audiences. The Ghanaian delegation included Mark Okraku-Mantey, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts; Frank Kwabena Owusu, Deputy CEO of the Creative Arts Agency; creative industries executive Kōfi Boachie-Ansah II; and other key stakeholders.

Strategic Collaborations and Knowledge Exchange
During the convention, Mensah engaged with leading international figures to explore partnerships and insights critical to advancing Ghana’s music publishing infrastructure. Among those she connected with were:
Alexandre Deniot (President, Global Music Community): A advocate for innovative career solutions supporting artists and industry professionals.
Caroline Bourgeois (President, CARO.B Music Publishing): Oversees publishing, administration, copyright, sync, and licensing services for global clients.
Akotchayé Okio (International Development Officer for Africa, SACEM): Drives SACEM’s African operations, focusing on rights collection and redistribution to creators and publishers.

François Bloque: A veteran artist developer and tour strategist whose clients have achieved milestones such as 1 million monthly Spotify streams and global touring success.
Oyinkansola Fawehinmi (Entertainment Lawyer and Consultant): An award-winning legal expert reshaping creative and sponsorship ecosystems in African film and music.

Strengthening Ghana’s Music Publishing Framework

The delegation’s agenda emphasized capacity-building in rights management, synchronization opportunities, and international collaboration—areas where Ghana’s creative sector seeks to align with global standards. Apprise Music, under Mensah’s leadership, aims to leverage these insights to bolster administrative processes and advocacy for local artists.
The AFD-CAA initiative reflects a broader push to position Ghana as a hub for creative industry innovation in West Africa. By fostering partnerships with organizations like SACEM and CARO.B Music Publishing, stakeholders hope to enhance royalty systems, streamline copyright enforcement, and amplify the commercial potential of Ghanaian music globally.

MaMA 2024 marks a pivotal step in bridging gaps between African and European markets, with Ghana’s participation signaling its growing influence in shaping the continent’s music business trajectory.