Veteran Highlife musician, Rex Omar
Veteran highlife artiste Rex Omar has publicly voiced his disagreement with the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Food and Drugs Authority's (FDA) ban on celebrities in alcohol advertisements.
Speaking in an interview on Accra-based 3FM, Rex Omar, said he viewed the decision by the Supreme Court as ‘wrong.’
He clarified that he is not a lawyer and does not intend to challenge the court's ruling but questioned why celebrity endorsements were being prohibited while alcohol sales were allowed to continue.
“I think it's wrong. I'm not a lawyer and as for Supreme Court rulings, I will not challenge them, but I completely disagree with them.
“Are we saying alcohol is bad? If alcohol is bad, ban it,” he said.
The Highlife musician also drew comparisons to drug advertisements, questioning whether individuals who advertise drugs should be blamed for cases of drug abuse.
“If you are saying that celebrities promoting alcohol will have a negative impact on society. What about drugs? Don't they advertise?
“So if somebody goes and abuses drugs, will you blame the person advertising it?” he said.
He suggested an alternative approach where celebrities could promote alcohol with a disclaimer that it should not be consumed by people under 18 years of age.
“And don't you think that even if you had a way, rather than banning it, when you are using celebrities to advertise alcohol, let them say that people under 18 years shouldn't take it?” he said.
Background
On June 19, 2024, the Supreme Court of Ghana confirmed the constitutionality of the FDA's guidelines prohibiting celebrities from advertising alcoholic beverages.
The guidelines, established in 2016, were challenged by Mark Darlington Osae, who argued they were unconstitutional and discriminatory, particularly against the creative arts sector.
Despite the legal challenge, which cited potential violations of equality and non-discrimination under the constitution, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the FDA with a 5-2 majority.
The decision has been met with disapproval from notable figures in the creative industry including George Quaye and Wendy Shay, who argue that the ban adversely affects their income and livelihoods.
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