Gov’t, SONACAM recommit to pay artists’ royalties.

This was during a press conference. During the outing, officials reviewed the partnership signed between the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Arts and Culture in this light on April 25, 2023.

The deal, they said, outlined new methods for the collection, payment, and redistribution of royalties and related rights. Distributors union, retailers and other stakeholders attended the meeting.

Chairperson of the Board of Directors of SONACAM, Francis Ateh Bazor, said with the 2023 agreement, the organisation now pays substantial royalties four times a year.

He disclosed that Boisson du Cameroun and other partners have agreed to collect one franc per every bottle of beer sold. 

Ateh Bazor added that “for beer to sell, you need good music. So, we are thankful to all of them for accepting to implement the government policy”.

Thanks to the decision, Ateh Bazor noted that, the life of artists will change. He added that henceforth, “…all liquor store owners and bars will pay royalties…It is something so wonderful that I thank the State for”.

The SONACAM Board chairperson also thanked the unions of beverage retailers, and the distributors' union, for helping in implementing the policy. Ateh Bazor disclosed that “royalties collected and distributed to artists stood at approximately 350 million FCFA annually”.

He added that: “With the introduction of withholding at source, royalties will now be automatically deducted and secured in a special deposit account before redistribution, under a transparency guarantee announced by the State”.

Strengthening transparency in sector

The President of the Commission for the Control of Collective Management Organizations, CCOGC, François Edimo, emphasised that protecting artists’ interests remains paramount.

“Our role is to ensure that the funds collected are actually deposited into the special deposit account for distribution,” he stated, underscoring the Commission’s watchdog function.

Edimo added that during negotiations, the interest of artists is always supreme. “Once this protocol reaches its conclusion, we will ensure that the funds collected are actually paid into the special deposit account…,” he said. 

The President Director General, PDG of Dovv, Philippe Tagne Noubissi, called on the population to consume beer made in Cameroon in order to support the payment of royalties.

Tagne said consuming Cameroonian products is the way to go to support, specifying that “…because behind every beer consumed, you will support Cameroonian artisans, and companies”. 

A musician and administrator at SONACAM, Louis de Koum, warned against mismanagement. Koum stressed that any embezzlement would not only concern royalties but also public funds given the backing from the State.

Fair system for bar owners

The April 25, 2023 joint decision, officials said, puts an end to forced collections and alleged extortion previously denounced by some bar owners. The amount, they stated, is 12 FCFA per crate sole.

The President of the National Union of Bars and Drinking Establishments of Cameroon, Hervé Nana, said withholding-at-source system eases the financial burden on business operators.

Nana said the decision will beer palour owners to “…effectively manage their business and enjoy their profits freely…”.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3705 of Monday February 16, 2026