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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
CP calls on residents to support security agencies in Yobe
By: Yahaya Wakili
Yobe State Commissioner of Police, CP Usman Kanfani JJibrin, PSC, MSPSP, SM. ICM has called on residents of Yobe State to continue supporting security agencies by providing timely, credible, and actionable information.
He said the prevailing peace and security in the state can only be sustained through mutual trust, collaboration, and coordinated efforts among all security agencies.
CP Usman Kanfani Jibrin revealed this while receiving the newly posted state commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), CC Hassan Owuna, at his office.
He maintained that the command’s unwavering commitment to fostering stronger inter-agency collaboration through intelligence-led policing, joint security building, and other coordinated strategies aimed at preventing and combating crime, protecting critical national assets, and ensuring the safety of lives and property across the state.
Earlier, the NSCDC Yobe State Commandant, CC Hassan Owuna, reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the existing partnership between the police command and the NSCDC in Yobe State.
He emphasised the need for sustained cooperation, intelligence sharing, and operational synergy among security agencies to effectively address emerging security challenges and enhance public safety.
CC Owuna expressed appreciation for the warm reception accorded to him and his members of his management team.
CP calls on residents to support security agencies in Yobe
Yobe: Governor Buni confirms Goje as SSG
By: Yahaya Wakili
Yobe State Governor Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, COMN, has confirmed the acting secretary to the state government, Dr. Mohammed Goje, as the substantive secretary to the state government.
Before appointing him as the secretary to the state government, Dr. Mohammed Goje was the executive secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
Dr. Mohammed Goje was appointed as the acting secretary to the Yobe State government on 29th April, 2026.
Governor Mai Mala Buni CON urged Dr. Mohammed Goje to justify his appointment as the substantive secretary to the state government through value addition to good governance and service delivery.
Yobe: Governor Buni confirms Goje as SSG
Woman Killed, Another Injured in Attack While Fetching Firewood in Plateau’s Mangu
By Zagazola Makama
One woman has been killed and another injured after suspected armed Fulani herders attacked two female villagers who had gone into the bush to fetch firewood in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 10:45 a.m. on Aug. 3 at Aloghom Village in Mangu LGA.
The sources said troops of Sector 8, Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) swiftly responded to a distress call and moved to the scene, forcing the suspected attackers to flee before they could inflict further harm.
During a search of the area, the troops found the two victims, identified as Mrs. Priscilia Friday and Anna Obed Joseph, both with varying degrees of injuries.
The victims were immediately evacuated to Allah Nakowa Hospital for emergency treatment. However, medical personnel later confirmed Mrs. Priscilia Friday dead, while Anna Obed Joseph is receiving treatment.
Security sources said troops have intensified efforts to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects, while patrols have been reinforced around the affected community to prevent further attacks.
The latest incident adds to the growing wave of violence in parts of Mangu Local Government Area, where security forces have continued to respond to attacks on civilians, livestock and farmlands amid ongoing efforts to prevent further escalation of the crisis.
Woman Killed, Another Injured in Attack While Fetching Firewood in Plateau’s Mangu
CP calls on residents to support security agencies in Yobe
Yobe: Governor Buni confirms Goje as SSG
Troops Impound 28 Livestock Over Illegal Grazing, Farm Destruction in Plateau’s Mangu
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