The ECOWAS Court of Justice, sitting in Osborne, Lagos State, has thrown out a case filed by Ghanaian artist Charles Mensah, popularly known as Shatta Wale, against the Republic of Ghana and its Gaming Commission.
The matter, designated as Suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/25/24, revolved around alleged discrimination linked to Ghana’s Advertising Guidelines.
Shatta Wale claimed he was denied a potential endorsement deal with a gaming company due to Guideline VII of the advertising code, which bars gaming operators from featuring celebrities in their advertisements.
He argued that this guideline violated his right to non-discrimination as enshrined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Despite these claims, the ECOWAS Court ruled against the musician, citing a lack of credible evidence to support his allegations.
The panel pointed out that Shatta Wale had failed to identify the gaming company involved or present any formal communication regarding the endorsement, which it deemed critical to the case.
In response, the Republic of Ghana defended its position by asserting that the advertising law is uniformly applied to all celebrities and challenged the applicant to demonstrate any instance of unequal treatment.
While the court affirmed its jurisdiction and found the application admissible, it ultimately dismissed the case on merit, concluding that Shatta Wale did not establish any clear evidence of discrimination.
The judgment was delivered by a three-member panel composed of Justices Ricardo Gonçalves (presiding), Sengu Koroma, and Dupe Atoki.
