Accra: Celebrated Ghanaian gospel musician Francis Amo was reportedly detained by the Ghana Police Service following a copyright complaint linked to the Church of Pentecost. The incident occurred on April 20, 2026, when Amo was taken into custody, detained, and later granted bail due to an alleged copyright infringement involving a song attributed to the Church of Pentecost.
According to Ghana Web, the arrest followed Amo’s release of a cover version of a song written by Elder Moses of the Church of Pentecost. Dr. Oduro Arhin, an Intellectual Property Consultant and University of Education, Winneba lecturer, described the situation on Max TV. He detailed that Francis Amo had a longstanding relationship with the church, dating back to 2008, during which he frequently recorded songs and performed for church activities without charge.
Dr. Arhin explained that during the recent Easter period, Amo expressed interest in covering a particular song and sought permission from the church. After receiving verbal consent, he recorded and uploaded the cover on streaming platforms on April 15, 2026. However, the church later requested the removal of the song, which Amo complied with immediately.
Despite his compliance, a lawyer associated with the Church of Pentecost filed a theft complaint against Amo, leading to his arrest. Dr. Arhin, who accompanied Amo to the police station, argued that the situation was a misunderstanding rather than a criminal matter. Amo was detained from 11 am to 4 pm before being granted bail, with instructions to assist in further investigations.
Dr. Arhin expressed surprise at the turn of events, emphasizing Amo’s professionalism and the positive relationship he had maintained with the church. He speculated that internal church politics might have contributed to the situation. Currently, Amo is cooperating with police investigations, while the Church of Pentecost has yet to release a public statement regarding the incident.