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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
Troops arrest suspected terrorist, recover rifle in Zamfara
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA have arrested a suspected terrorist and recovered an AK-47 rifle during a routine patrol in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Security sources said the arrest was made on April 3 at about 11:30 a.m. by troops of 1 Brigade Combat Team deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Kurya.
The suspect was apprehended at Tungan Haki village and found in possession of one AK-47 rifle mounted with a magazine containing 13 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
The sources disclosed that the suspect and the recovered weapon are currently in custody for further investigation and necessary action.
They added that troops have continued to intensify patrols and surveillance operations across the area to curb criminal activities.
Troops arrest suspected terrorist, recover rifle in Zamfara
IED explosion injures two security personnel during patrol in Anambra
By: Zagazola Makama
Two security personnel have been injured following the detonation of an improvised explosive device (IED) during a fighting patrol in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Security sources said the incident occurred on April 3 at about 12:30 p.m. when troops of Sector 5, Operation UDO KA, deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Lilu, conducted a patrol alongside Nigeria Police personnel.
It was gathered that the team sighted the IED within the Lilu general area and attempted to destroy it.
However, the explosive device detonated during the process, injuring an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) personnel and a police officer.
The injured personnel were immediately administered first aid at the scene before being referred to a medical facility for further treatment.
Authorities said the situation has been brought under control, while operations continue in the area to ensure safety and prevent further incidents.
IED explosion injures two security personnel during patrol in Anambra
Troops neutralise two terrorists, destroy hideouts in Plateau clearance operations
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), under Operation Wutan Daji, have neutralised two suspected terrorists and destroyed several hideouts during clearance operations in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau.
Security sources said the operations were carried out in conjunction with local vigilantes across Babangida, Adua and Bokayi villages within the Dutsen Zaki forest.
It was gathered that troops made contact with the terrorists along the Babangida–Adua road, leading to a gun battle in which two of the suspects were neutralised, while others fled with possible gunshot wounds.
No casualties were recorded among the troops, and all equipment was accounted for.
During the operation, troops recovered one locally fabricated gun, a belt containing 105 rounds of 7.62mm PKT ammunition, 30 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and a cutlass.
In a related development, troops of CSI Battalion XIV, in collaboration with 332 Artillery Regiment and vigilantes, conducted further clearance and raid operations in Dadin-Kowa and Dada villages.
The operation involved 47 soldiers and four vigilantes, supported with motorcycles, gun trucks, a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle and an artillery gun.
The troops established a gun position and carried out fire missions on suspected terrorist locations in Madam Forest to deny them freedom of action.
Subsequent raid operations in Dadin-Kowa village led to the destruction of suspected terrorist hideouts, although no contact was made with the fleeing elements.
Troops neutralise two terrorists, destroy hideouts in Plateau clearance operations
Troops arrest suspected terrorist, recover rifle in Zamfara
Troops recover suspected rustled cattle in Plateau
Troops neutralise kidnapper, rescue victim in Enugu
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