Lali X Lola Campaign For Withheld Tax Royalties From International Bodies

Christabel Newman
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Lali X Lola Campaign For Withheld Tax Royalties From International Bodies
Lali X Lola
WRITTEN BY WALTER SENA 

Musical duo Lali X Lola have issued a balanced but urgent response to the newly announced GH¢20 million Creative Arts Fund captured in Ghana’s 2026 Budget. While describing the initiative as a “welcome breakthrough,” the duo stressed that the allocation remains far too limited to meaningfully address the deep-rooted challenges within Ghana’s sprawling creative sector.

Speaking to 3Music TV, they acknowledged that the introduction of the fund aligns with a proposal they had earlier championed but insisted that the gesture must evolve into broader, long-term reform.

“We were genuinely excited to hear about the Creative Arts Fund,” they said. “We had already put out a press statement calling for such a fund. But the truth is, the creative space is extremely large, with numerous structural issues. GH¢20 million simply cannot fix all those problems or create the real impact the industry needs.”

Beyond critiquing the scale of the allocation, Lali X Lola outlined a strategic solution they believe could transform the industry’s financial foundation,the recovery of international royalties and withholding taxes owed to Ghanaian creatives.

They explained that a significant chunk of earnings generated on global digital platforms including streaming services and content marketplaces are withheld abroad because many of these companies operate in jurisdictions like the United States. Quoting the duo,  “Because Ghana has no bilateral tax agreements with these countries, a percentage of earnings are blocked as withholding taxes and kept abroad.”

To tackle this, they are urging government to begin negotiations towards tax waivers for Ghanaian creatives earning abroad and fair & clear bilateral tax treaties with key digital economies.

According to them, failure to address these barriers will continue to place Ghana at a disadvantage. 

Since releasing their statements on the Creative Arts Fund and withheld international royalties, the duo say the response has been overwhelmingly supportive saying “people have reposted, creatives have called us, it’s been encouraging. But it’s not enough. We need more voices, more advocacy, so that the message reaches the right people.”

Their appeal was officially directed to the Ministry of Finance, Clerk of Parliament, Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Communication, signalling their intent to drive sustained policy dialogue.

For Lali X Lola, this moment marks not an endpoint but the beginning of a broader push for structural change, one they hope the entire creative ecosystem will rally behind.

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