Ghanaian music legend Sarkodie has taken legal action against Ecobank Ghana Limited, accusing the bank of using a lookalike in a recent advertising campaign without his permission. The lawsuit, filed in the Commercial Division of the High Court in Accra, stems from allegations that the bank violated the rapper’s intellectual property rights and personal brand by featuring a person who closely resembles him in their campaign.
In legal documents shared publicly, Sarkodie claims that the unauthorized use of his image has led to significant reputational damage and financial losses. He is seeking general damages, a permanent injunction to prevent further exploitation of his likeness, and the removal of all related media from both digital and print platforms.
The controversial advertisement, titled #ItsGivingScam, featured a lookalike of Sarkodie, who is allegedly linked to First Bank Ghana as a creative. The casting decision sparked a wave of criticism on social media, with many calling out the bank for choosing a doppelgänger over collaborating with King Promise, an artist already partnered with Ecobank.
The case has sparked discussions about the ethical use of celebrities’ images in marketing campaigns and the potential consequences of unauthorized likeness exploitation. The outcome of the lawsuit will likely set a precedent for how celebrities’ personal brands are handled by corporate entities in Ghana.
