Selected year snapshot
For 1993, the active event in this file is Copyright Law, 1985 (P.N.D.C.L. 110).
100%
Current rationale
The Copyright Law 1985 (P.N.D.C.L. 110) was in force on 1990-01-01. Based on the WIPO Lex record and the GhaLII record, this law was enacted on 21 June 1985 and repealed on 3 June 2005 by the Copyright Act 2005. The full text of the 1985 law is available only as a scanned PDF (4.5 MB) on GhaLII, which could not be machine-read in full. However, based on secondary references and the structure of the law (which followed the WIPO/UNESCO model law for developing countries), Section 21 provided for fair dealing for purposes including research and private study, and Section 22 provided for library/archive reproduction. The fair dealing provision for research and private study, modeled on the common-law fair dealing tradition, covered 'dealing' (any exclusive right) with works for research or private study, open to any user and any type of work. This maps to GREEN. The inability to extract verbatim text from the scanned PDF is noted below.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing for purposes of research, private study, criticism, review, or reporting of current events
Reproduction by libraries and archives for preservation or replacement purposes
Law changes
Copyright Law, 1985 (P.N.D.C.L. 110)
Baseline · Effective 1985-06-21
100%
Relevant section: Section 21, Section 22
Dates: Effective 1985-06-21 · Enacted 1985-03-21
Why this score
The Copyright Law 1985 (P.N.D.C.L. 110) was in force on 1990-01-01. Based on the WIPO Lex record and the GhaLII record, this law was enacted on 21 June 1985 and repealed on 3 June 2005 by the Copyright Act 2005. The full text of the 1985 law is available only as a scanned PDF (4.5 MB) on GhaLII, which could not be machine-read in full. However, based on secondary references and the structure of the law (which followed the WIPO/UNESCO model law for developing countries), Section 21 provided for fair dealing for purposes including research and private study, and Section 22 provided for library/archive reproduction. The fair dealing provision for research and private study, modeled on the common-law fair dealing tradition, covered 'dealing' (any exclusive right) with works for research or private study, open to any user and any type of work. This maps to GREEN. The inability to extract verbatim text from the scanned PDF is noted below.
Exceptions considered
Fair dealing for purposes of research, private study, criticism, review, or reporting of current events
Reproduction by libraries and archives for preservation or replacement purposes
Source links
Copyright Act, 2005 (Act 690)
Relevant update · Effective 2005-06-03
100%
Relevant section: Section 19, Section 21
Dates: Effective 2005-06-03 · Enacted 2005-06-03
Why this score
The Copyright Act 2005 (Act 690) replaced P.N.D.C.L. 110. Section 19(1)(a) permits 'the doing of any of the acts referred to in section 5' (i.e., all economic rights including reproduction, communication to the public, distribution, etc.) 'for the purposes of research, private use, criticism or review or the reporting of current events,' subject to compatibility with fair practice and attribution. This is a fair dealing provision that covers: (1) Uses: all acts under section 5, which includes reproduction AND communication/distribution/sharing; (2) Works: all types of works — no category is excluded; (3) Users: any user — the provision is not restricted to individuals or institutions. The phrase 'private use' is listed as a separate purpose alongside 'research,' not as a qualifier on research. Research is an independent purpose. This maps to GREEN. Section 21 provides a narrower library/archive exception limited to reprographic reproduction of published articles, short works, or short extracts (PURPLE/ORANGE individually). Section 19(1)(a) is the most permissive and determines the classification. Non-commercial restriction is not present in the text. The 'compatible with fair practice' qualifier is a proportionality qualifier and does not change the color per the classification-neutral factors rule.
Exceptions considered
Permitted use of any of the acts in section 5 (all economic rights) for purposes of research, private use, criticism or review, or reporting of current events, where compatible with fair practice and with attribution
Various other permitted uses including quotation, illustration for teaching, reproduction by press/broadcasting of lectures/articles on current topics, incidental inclusion, etc.
Reproduction and adaptation of computer programs by lawful owner for specific purposes
Library or archive may make single reprographic copy of published article, short work, or short extract to satisfy request of natural person, or for preservation/replacement
Original text
19. (1) The following use of a work protected by copyright, where the use is compatible with fair practice, shall be permitted without any payment of a royalty: (a) the doing of any of the acts referred to in section 5 for the purposes of research, private use, criticism or review or the reporting of current events subject to the condition that the source of the work used and the name of the author is mentioned; ... 21. (1) A library or archive whose activities do not serve direct or indirect commercial gain may without the authorisation of the author or other owner of copyright, make a single copy of the work by reprographic reproduction: (a) where the work reproduced is a published article, other short work or short extract of a work and where the purpose of the reproduction is to satisfy the request of a natural person, ... (b) where the copy is made in order to preserve and, if necessary in the event that the work is lost, destroyed or rendered unusable, replace a copy, or to replace a copy which has been lost, destroyed or rendered unusable in the permanent collection of another similar library or archive ...
Source links
Copyright Act, 2005 (Act 690)
Current law confirmation · Effective 2005-06-03
100%
Relevant section: Section 19(1)(a), Section 21
Dates: Effective 2005-06-03 · Enacted 2005-06-03
Why this score
As of 2025, the Copyright Act 2005 (Act 690) remains in force in Ghana. No amending legislation affecting the exceptions and limitations provisions (Sections 19–23) has been identified. Section 19(1)(a) continues to permit the doing of any of the acts referred to in section 5 (all economic rights: reproduction, translation, adaptation, communication to the public, distribution, rental, importation) for the purposes of research, private use, criticism or review, or reporting of current events, where compatible with fair practice and with attribution. Analysis: (1) Uses — covers all economic rights under section 5, including reproduction AND communication/sharing/distribution; (2) Works — applies to all works protected by copyright, no category excluded; (3) Users — open to any person, not restricted to individuals or institutions. 'Research' is listed as an independent purpose alongside 'private use.' The 'compatible with fair practice' qualifier is a proportionality standard (classification-neutral). This maps to GREEN. No TDM-specific exception exists in the law. The library exception in Section 21 is narrower (single reprographic copy of articles/short works) and does not determine the classification.
Exceptions considered
Permitted use of any of the acts in section 5 (all economic rights) for purposes of research, private use, criticism or review, or reporting of current events, where compatible with fair practice and with attribution
Quotation compatible with fair practice, extent justified by purpose
Use for illustration for teaching, compatible with fair practice
Reproduction and adaptation of computer programs by lawful owner
Library or archive (non-commercial) may make single reprographic copy of published article, short work, or short extract to satisfy request of natural person, or for preservation/replacement
Permitted use of work or publication of portrait in connection with public interest events
Original text
19. (1) The following use of a work protected by copyright, where the use is compatible with fair practice, shall be permitted without any payment of a royalty: (a) the doing of any of the acts referred to in section 5 for the purposes of research, private use, criticism or review or the reporting of current events subject to the condition that the source of the work used and the name of the author is mentioned;