Ban on celeb alcohol endorsement 'doesn't make sense' - Pope Skinny

Pope Skinny has deeply lamented the ban on celebrity endorsement of alcoholic beverages.

Speaking to Nana Romeo on Accra 100.5 FM's midmorning programme Ayekoo Ayekoo, the Hiplife star said the ban "doesn't make sense".

The Food & Drugs Authority (FDA), in 2015, issued a directive banning popular figures in society from endorsing alcohol. The Supreme Court subsequently upheld the ban when talent manager and music executive Darlington Osae challenged it at the apex court.

Pope Skinny argued the alcohol-dealing companies in recent years had been very helpful to the entertainment industry in Ghana, organising some of the biggest shows and giving lucrative endorsement deals to creative arts players, including musicians like himself.

In a country where "if you don't have a hit song you'll go hungry," and in an industry where "our social security contributions are not made," the award-winning rapper and radio personality wondered why such a trend was ended.

He said all the above, made life difficult for local talents, adding it was why there is a current exodus of citizens, including musicians, to the West.

The musician revealed he had moved to the United States where he worked as a truck driver.

“Since the leaders don’t really think about our welfare in this country, we’ll leave and go do jobs that may be below us – at least no one will see as doing it,” he bemoaned.