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ECOWAS Court Dismisses Shatta Wale’s Discrimination Claim Against Ghanaian Gaming Commission

ECOWAS Court Dismisses Shatta Wale’s Discrimination Claim Against Ghanaian Gaming Commission
The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has delivered its judgment in Case No. ECW/CCJ/APP/25/24, Charles Nii Armah Mensah v. Republic of Ghana and Gaming Commission, dismissing the discrimination claim brought by the award-winning Ghanaian musician known professionally as Shatta Wale.
The Court on Friday ruled against the Applicant, citing his failure to provide sufficient evidence of differential treatment, lack of proof regarding correspondence with the gaming company in question, and failure to disclose the identity of the gaming company central to the case.
Mr. Charles Nii Armah Mensah, an award-winning musician, recording artist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist known professionally as Shatta Wale, alleged that his right to non-discrimination was violated when he was prevented from securing an endorsement deal with a gaming company in Ghana.
The Applicant claimed that his established social status and professional achievements had earned him recognition and endorsement opportunities for various products and services within and outside Ghana. However, he alleged that a potential endorsement deal was terminated because of Guideline VII of Ghana’s Advertising Guidelines, which prohibits gaming “operators from using celebrities in their advertisements to entice the general public to gamble.”
Mr. Mensah contended that this restriction based on his celebrity status constituted discrimination and violated his rights guaranteed under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other international legal instruments.
The Respondent, the Republic of Ghana, denied the Applicant’s claims and challenged the Court’s competence to determine a case seeking to repeal or revoke national legislation. Ghana requested that the Applicant provide evidence of other celebrities engaged in similar advertisements who received different treatment. The Respondent maintained that no celebrities of the Applicant’s status were permitted to engage in such advertisements in Ghana, and examples cited by the Applicant involved celebrities engaged by other countries with different legal frameworks.
In its judgment, the Court observed that:
The Applicant failed to provide proof of any correspondence or oral evidence of interaction with the unidentified gaming company, or of any order from the Respondent to the gaming company to discontinue discussions with the Applicant.
The Applicant did not present credible evidence demonstrating different treatment of other celebrities engaged in similar advertisements that would amount to discrimination.
The Court was being asked to grant relief with implications for a critical but unidentified third party (the gaming company), which contradicts the rules of admissibility of the Court.
The Court, in its ruling, declared it has jurisdiction over the application and the application admissible but dismissed the case in its entirety as lacking merit.
The judgment was rendered by a panel comprising: Hon. Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves (Presiding Judge),
Hon. Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma (Member), Hon. Justice Dupe Atoki (Member and Judge Rapporteur)
ECOWAS Court Dismisses Shatta Wale’s Discrimination Claim Against Ghanaian Gaming Commission
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Troops repel bandits, and recovered six motorcycles on Tsafe-Funtua highway

Troops repel bandits, and recovered six motorcycles on Tsafe-Funtua highway
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation FANSAR YAMMA have repelled a bandits’ attack along the Tsafe–Funtua highway in Zamfara, recovering four motorcycles from the criminals.
It was gathered that the clash occurred at about 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 27 when a large number of armed bandits confronted troops on routine patrol near Marabar Kyaware.
A fierce gun battle ensued for over an hour, forcing the bandits to retreat with possible gunshot injuries.
It said four motorcycles were abandoned and recovered by the troops.
“Unfortunately, one Aliyu Muhammad, alias Rege, a 27-year-old refugee residing at Magazu, was hit by stray bullets on his chest and died on the spot.
“The corpse has since been released to relatives for burial,” said the sources.
The sources also disclosed that an explosive device, later identified as a military mortar bomb, was discovered at the scene and successfully detonated by the Police Bomb Disposal Unit from Gusau.
Meanwhile, joint security patrols have been intensified along the Tsafe–Funtua highway to forestall further occurrence.
Troops repel bandits, and recovered six motorcycles on Tsafe-Funtua highway
News
Gunmen kill police officer, snatch rifle in Anambra

Gunmen kill police officer, snatch rifle in Anambra
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed men suspected to be members of the proscribed IPOB/ESN militia on Wednesday attacked operatives of the Police Mobile Force (PMF) in Amansea/Ifite, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra.
Sources told Zagazola that the incident occurred at about 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday when the hoodlums opened fire on personnel of MOPOL 32, Abakaliki, who were on duty at a designated flash point in the area.
“One of the officers on duty, Inspector Simon Ngbebu, was fatally hit by bullets fired by the hoodlums, while his service rifle, an AK-47 was carted away,”said the sources.
The sources noted that reinforcement had been deployed, while an intensive manhunt for the perpetrators had commenced.
Gunmen kill police officer, snatch rifle in Anambra
News
Bandits kill one, abduct farmers in Kajuru LGA, Kaduna

Bandits kill one, abduct farmers in Kajuru LGA, Kaduna
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits have killed one farmer, injured another and kidnapped an unspecified number of persons in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Sources confirmed the incident occurred on Wednesday, at Sarkin Bajaga village while the victims were working on their farmland. Security forces were mobilized to the scene.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that one Titus Victor, 34, was shot and fatally injured, while another, Nathan Andrew, 33, sustained gunshot injuries on his left thigh.
“The injured victim was rushed to Bege Hospital, Maraban Kajuru, and is responding to treatment. The deceased was confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” said the sources
The sources added that an unspecified number of farmers were abducted to an unknown destination during the attack.
The sources said concerted efforts by security agencies were ongoing to rescue the victims and arrest the perpetrators.
Bandits kill one, abduct farmers in Kajuru LGA, Kaduna
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