Musician
and
legal
practitioner
Fidel
Leviel
from
Ghana
has
expressed
dissatisfaction
with
the
Food
and
Drugs
Authority
(FDA)’s
restriction
on
celebrities
endorsing
alcoholic
drinks.
The
Food
and
Drugs
Authority
(FDA)
in
2015
enforced
a
directive
meant
to
regulate
the
use
of
alcohol
among
Ghanaians.
However,
aspects
of
their
guidelines
prevent
celebrities
from
advertising
alcoholic
beverages.
The
Authority
had
explained
that
due
to
the
influential
nature
of
these
showbiz
personalities,
alcoholic
advertisements
they
are
involved
in
could
push
minors
into
alcoholism.
Representing
the
plaintiff
Mark
Darlington
Osae,
was
Bobby
Banson
from
the
Robert
Smith
Law
Group,
while
the
Food
and
Drugs
Authority
was
represented
by
Justin
Amenuvor.
On
November
11,
2022,
Mark
Darlington
Osae,
the
manager
of
Reggie
‘N’
Bollie
and
Skrewfaze,
filed
a
writ
at
the
Supreme
Court,
describing
the
FDA’s
2015
regulations
against
alcoholic
advertisements
by
celebrities
as
discriminatory
against
the
creative
arts
industry.
The
writ
indicates
that
the
FDA
directive
which
orders
that,
“no
well-known
personality
or
professional
shall
be
used
in
alcoholic
beverage
advertising,”
is
inconsistent
with
and
in
contravention
of
articles
17(1)
and
17
(2)
of
the
1992
Constitution.
He
contends
that
Articles
17(1)
and
17
(2)
of
the
1992
Constitution
guarantee
equality
before
the
law
and
prohibit
discrimination
against
persons
on
grounds
of
social
or
economic
status,
and
occupation,
among
others,
and
consequently
make
the
directive
null,
void,
and
unenforceable.
But
on
June
21,
2024,
the
Supreme
Court
by
a
majority
decision
upheld
the
Food
and
Drugs
Authority
(FDA)’s
directive.
Delivering
an
abridged
version
of
the
ruling
at
the
apex
court
on
Wednesday,
June
19,
Chief
Justice,
Gertrude
Torkornoo,
said
the
FDA’s
directive
does
not
contravene
the
constitution.
This
means
that
well-known
personalities
or
professionals
are
perpetually
banned
from
appearing
in
advertisements
that
promote
alcoholic
drinks.
Speaking
on
Channel
One
TV’s
entertainment
talk
show
The
Chat
–
hosted
by
Ekow
Koomson,
Lawyer
Fidel
Leviel
stated
that
he
feels
bad
about
the
ruling
as
a
musician.
According
to
him,”
As
a
musician,
I
feel
very
bad
about
it
…
It
looks
like
the
FDA
and
for
that
matter,
the
Republic
of
Ghana
is
taking
my
bread
away
from
me”
Lawyer
Fidel
was
quick
in
adding,
“But
I
am
guided
by
certain
legal
principles
taking
into
consideration
the
Children’s
Act
1998
article
560
…that
talks
about
the
best
interest
of
the
child…
so
it
keeps
me
at
a
point
I
will
now
compromise
as
a
musician
and
also
compromise
as
a
lawyer”.
On
the
question
of
whether
celebrities
influence
young
ones
through
alcoholic
advertisements?
Lawyer
Fidel
Leviel
answered,
”
That
can
never
be
overemphasized…
It
is
a
fact…but
if
the
question
that
easily
and
equally
begs
the
mind
is;
If
a
ban
could
be
made
on
celebrities
endorsing
alcohol,
then
why
don’t
we
ban
the
production
of
alcohol
at
all”?
Watch
lawyer
Fidel’s
full
submission
in
the
video
below