Artiste Manager, Mark Darlington Osae’s case against the Food and Drugs Authority’s (FDA) 2015 directive to ban celebrities from endorsing and advertising alcoholic beverages has been dismissed by the Supreme Court of Ghana.
The FDA’s Guideline 3.2.10 seeks to prevent “well known personalities and professionals” from participating in advertising alcoholic beverages.
This, Osae argued that it violated equality and was discriminatory against the creative industry, and took to court to challenge the FDA’s directives.
However, the Supreme Court ruled on Friday, July 19 that the FDA’s directive was reasonable and in the interest of public health in Ghana, and that the FDA acted within the general powers conferred on it by the Public Health Act, 2012 Act 851.
Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkonoo presiding over the seven-member panel held that the FDA guideline was not unreasonably excessive and did not contravene the 1992 constitution.
Some Ghanaian celebrities have spoken publicly against the directive since it was announced by the FDA in 2015.
Singer Mzbel expressed her discontent and was quoted recently saying “there is a bar on every street, why ban celebs from advertising alcohol.”
Actor and media personality, George Quaye together with musicians Shatta Wale, Camidoh, Edem, Wendy Shay and Kuami Eugene have all in past years spoken against the directive.
