'Stop using my image' - Shalimar Abbuisi dumps New Force

Shalimar Abbuisi, the Belgian national and advocate who once served as the public face of Ghanaian businessman and political figure Nana Kwame Bediako’s New Force movement, has formally and publicly cut ties with the organisation.

She has also warned that any further use of her name, image, voice, or personal content without her authorisation will be met with legal action.

In a strongly worded public statement dated April 28, 2026, Abbuisi disclosed that she had received information suggesting that The New Force, New Africa Foundation, New Africa Congress, and persons associated with Bediako, popularly known as Cheddar or Freedom Jacob Caesar, may be preparing to release content featuring her likeness, despite having been served with a formal cease-and-desist letter weeks earlier.

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“This development comes despite a formal cease-and-desist letter issued on my behalf on 13 April 2026 through my lawyers, Merton & Everett LLP. That letter demanded an immediate end to the unauthorised use of my name, image, likeness, voice and audio-visual content, and the removal of all material creating the false impression that I remain affiliated with, supportive of, or authorised to speak for The New Force, New Africa Foundation, New Africa Congress, Nana Kwame Bediako, Cheddar, and/or any affiliated person or entity.

“I am no longer a spokesperson for The New Force, New Africa Foundation, New Africa Congress, Nana Kwame Bediako, or any affiliated entity, movement, campaign, or platform. I am not professionally affiliated with them, do not represent them, and do not speak for them in any capacity,” she said.

She also moved to close any legal grey area around her past involvement with the movement, stressing that prior consent cannot be treated as an ongoing licence.

“Any consent, permission, release, licence, waiver, or authorisation that any person or organisation may claim to have had in relation to my personal content has been formally revoked. My past participation in any activity cannot be converted into a permanent licence to use my identity,” she stated.

Abbuisi further served a direct warning to media houses, bloggers, social media platforms, and political actors not to publish, circulate, repost, or amplify any content featuring her that originates from the group or its affiliates.

“I am therefore imploring all persons, media houses, bloggers, social media platforms, political actors, campaign teams, and affiliated organisations to take notice and not publish, circulate, repost, promote, or amplify any content containing my name, image, voice, likeness, or personal content released by the New Force, New Africa Foundation, New Africa Congress, Nana Kwame Bediako, also known as Cheddar and Freedom Jacob Caesar, and persons acting for or in association with them,” she added.

Abbuisi’s history with Ghana’s political landscape has been turbulent. As spokesperson for The New Force, the movement built around Cheddar’s political ambitions, she became one of its most visible faces before her involvement took a dramatic turn.

In December 2023, she was arrested and charged with falsely declaring herself a student to obtain a permit in Ghana, though she pleaded not guilty.

The charge was later dropped, but she was subsequently rearrested and deported from the country.

ID/MA

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