ECOWAS Court Dismisses Shatta Wale’s Discrimination Case Against Ghana

The ECOWAS Court of Justice, sitting in Osborne, Lagos State, has dismissed a discrimination lawsuit filed by Ghanaian musician Charles Mensah, popularly known as Shatta Wale, against the Republic of Ghana and its Gaming Commission.

Delivering judgment in Suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/25/24, the court ruled that the applicant failed to provide sufficient evidence to support his claim of discriminatory treatment.

“The applicant did not present credible evidence of any directive from the government nor correspondence with the alleged gaming company,” the court stated. It further noted that Mensah did not identify the gaming company, which the court said was a necessary party to the suit.

Shatta Wale had alleged that he was denied an endorsement deal by a gaming operator in Ghana due to Guideline VII of Ghana’s Advertising Guidelines, which prohibit gaming companies from using celebrities in advertising campaigns. He claimed the rule violated his right to non-discrimination under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

In response, the Republic of Ghana denied the allegations, arguing that the guideline applies universally and that no celebrities were permitted to endorse gaming products, challenging the musician to present evidence of others who were treated differently.

The court held that while it had jurisdiction and found the application admissible, the claim lacked merit. It emphasized that the absence of proof, including the identity of the gaming company and any documentary evidence of discriminatory action, rendered the suit unsubstantiated.

The judgment was delivered by a panel of justices Ricardo Gonçalves (presiding), Sengu Koroma, and Dupe Atoki.