Shatta Wale loses case over gambling ad ban at ECOWAS court

The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has dismissed a legal case filed by Ghanaian artist Charles Nii Armah Mensah, popularly known as Shatta Wale, rejecting his claims of discrimination against Ghana and its Gaming Commission.

In its judgment on May 8, 2025, the Court ruled that Shatta Wale failed to prove that his rights were violated when he was allegedly blocked from signing an endorsement deal with a Ghanaian betting company.

Shatta Wale argued that Ghana’s Advertising Guidelines—specifically Guideline VII, which prohibits celebrities from appearing in gambling advertisements—unfairly targeted him and breached protections under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

However, the Court found no concrete evidence to back these allegations. Shatta Wale could not provide documents or testimony showing he had engaged in contract talks with the unnamed gaming firm, nor did he show any proof that Ghanaian authorities intervened to stop the deal.

Furthermore, the Court pointed out that Shatta Wale did not show any examples where other celebrities in similar situations were treated differently, weakening his discrimination claim.

The Court also expressed concerns about the unidentified gaming company at the heart of the dispute.

It ruled that without naming this third party, granting any relief would violate the Court’s procedural rules.

While confirming it had jurisdiction over the case and found the application admissible, the Court ultimately dismissed the case for lack of merit.

The panel issuing the ruling included Presiding Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves, along with Justices Sengu Mohamed Koroma and Dupe Atoki.