News
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
Police repel attack during attempt to arrest suspected bandit leader, one killed in Kano
By; Zagazola Makama
The Police Command in Kano State has repelled an attack on its personnel during an operation to arrest a suspected bandit leader in Bichi Local Government Area.
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 6:30 p.m. on March 22, following a distress call from Tudun Wulli Outpost.
According to the sources, a team of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad, led by ASP Abubakar Musa, acted on credible intelligence and trailed a suspected bandit leader identified as Muhammad, also known as “Senator” or “Kirchi,” who had reportedly visited Tudun Wulli village for Sallah celebrations.
“The suspect was sighted in possession of an AK-47 rifle, but upon attempt to apprehend him, he fled into a crowd,” the source said.
The situation escalated when a mob allegedly attacked the police team with stones and other dangerous weapons, injuring ASP Lawali Hamidu and damaging the windscreen of a patrol vehicle.
“In the process of tactical withdrawal, four persons sustained gunshot injuries and were rushed to General Hospital, Bichi, for treatment,” the source added.
One of the victims, identified as Halima Saidu, was later confirmed dead by a medical doctor, while the others are responding to treatment.
The police personnel involved in the operation were safely evacuated, and additional security deployments have been made to the area to forestall further breakdown of law and order.
The command said the situation has been brought under control, adding that investigations are ongoing, while efforts are being intensified to apprehend the fleeing suspect.
Police repel attack during attempt to arrest suspected bandit leader, one killed in Kano
Two suspects arrested over killing of cows in Benue
By: Zagazola Makama
Security operatives have arrested two suspects over the killing of cows and recovery of suspected stolen meat in Guma LGA of Benue State.
Sources said the suspects, identified as Sylvester Kuman and Nyitor Akaangee, both of Udei Village, were arrested at about 1:00 p.m. on March 22 following credible intelligence.
Items suspected to be cow meat were recovered from the suspects during the operation.
Authorities said efforts were ongoing to track and arrest other accomplices, while investigations had commenced to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
Two suspects arrested over killing of cows in Benue
Police inspector dies from injuries after auto crash in Nasarawa
By: Zagazola Makama
A police inspector, Usman Zubairu, has died from injuries sustained in a motor accident in Nasarawa State.
The officer, attached to the Police Mobile Force (PMF) unit deployed at the Government House in Lafia, was initially involved in a serious road accident before being transferred to the University of Jos Teaching Hospital for treatment.
Sources said the officer died at about 2:00 a.m. on March 22 while receiving medical care at the hospital.
His remains have been deposited at the hospital mortuary, while burial arrangements are ongoing.
Police inspector dies from injuries after auto crash in Nasarawa
Police repel attack during attempt to arrest suspected bandit leader, one killed in Kano
Two suspects arrested over killing of cows in Benue
Police inspector dies from injuries after auto crash in Nasarawa
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
FAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
News2 years agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions4 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
News11 months agoFAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
News2 years agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Opinions4 years agoPOLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
ACADEMICS2 years agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Columns2 years agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
Opinions2 years agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
