Popular Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie, whose real name is Michael Owusu Addo, has sued Ecobank Ghana. He took the bank to the Commercial Division of the High Court in Accra. The reason? He says they used someone who looks like him in an advert without asking for his permission.
The ad, part of a campaign called #ItsGivingScam, featured a man who closely resembles Sarkodie. The rapper believes this act breaks his rights and harms his brand. He also says it caused him to lose money and hurt his reputation.
In the lawsuit, Sarkodie is asking the court to stop the bank from using his image or anything similar again. He also wants the ad removed from all platforms — online and in print — and is asking for damages.
Social media users were quick to respond to the ad. Many people were upset that the bank used a lookalike instead of working with King Promise, another artist already connected to Ecobank.
This case has started a big conversation about the use of celebrity lookalikes in ads and respecting artists’ rights.
