ECOWAS Court Throws Out Shatta Wale’s Discrimination Case Against Ghana
The ECOWAS Court of Justice sitting in Lagos has dismissed a legal case filed by popular Ghanaian musician, Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., better known as Shatta Wale, over claims of discrimination by the Ghanaian government.
Shatta Wale had dragged the Republic of Ghana and its Gaming Commission before the regional court, claiming he was unfairly denied an endorsement deal due to existing advertising laws in the country. Specifically, he pointed to Guideline VII of Ghana’s Advertising Guidelines, which prohibits gaming operators from using celebrities to promote their products. He argued that this policy infringed on his right to non-discrimination, as outlined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
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But the court wasn’t convinced. In its ruling on suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/25/24, the judges said Shatta Wale failed to provide concrete evidence that he was actually discriminated against. He couldn’t show proof of communication with the gaming company in question, nor did he even name the company involved—something the court said was essential to the case.
The Ghanaian government, for its part, denied the accusations and maintained that the law applies equally to all celebrities. It even challenged Shatta Wale to present examples of other public figures who had been treated differently, but he didn’t.
In its final judgment, the court confirmed it had jurisdiction to hear the matter and admitted the application. However, it ultimately dismissed the case in its entirety, stating that the claims lacked merit.
The judgment was delivered by a panel made up of Justices Ricardo Gonçalves (presiding), Sengu Koroma, and Dupe Atoki.
So, while the case might have stirred conversation online, the court made it clear that without proper evidence and a solid case, claims of discrimination won’t fly—even if you’re a superstar like Shatta Wale.
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