The ECOWAS Court of Justice sitting in Lagos has thrown out a discrimination case filed by popular Ghanaian musician, Charles Mensah, known as Shatta Wale, against the Republic of Ghana and its Gaming Commission.
The court gave its ruling on Friday, saying the artist failed to prove that he was treated unfairly or discriminated against.
Shatta Wale had taken the matter to court, claiming he lost an endorsement deal from a gaming company in Ghana because of the country’s advertising rules, which stop celebrities from being used in gambling adverts.
He argued that this rule, stated as Guideline VII in Ghana’s Advertising Guidelines, violated his right to equal treatment as guaranteed by the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
However, the ECOWAS court, in its ruling on Suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/25/24, said the musician could not provide enough evidence to support his claims. The judges noted that he failed to name the gaming company involved or show any written communication with the company about the endorsement deal.
The court stated, “The applicant failed to show there was any directive from the government or proof of discrimination. He also failed to name the company involved, which should have been part of the case.”
Ghana’s government had earlier denied any wrongdoing, saying that no celebrity in the country is allowed to appear in gambling adverts. The government challenged the musician to show any example where another celebrity was treated differently.
The panel of judges—Justices Ricardo Gonçalves (presiding), Sengu Koroma and Dupe Atoki—said they had the right to hear the case and that it was properly filed, but ruled that the case had no merit and dismissed it completely.
The court’s decision means Shatta Wale will not get any compensation, and Ghana’s ban on celebrity endorsements in gambling remains unchanged.
