In new entertainment news, Dr Cryme has expressed concern that the Food and Drugs Authority’s (FDA) ban on Ghanaian celebrities promoting alcohol may drive some to resort to illicit methods for income generation.
The rapper and singer emphasized that he views the ban, recently upheld by the Supreme Court after extensive legal battles, as discriminatory, particularly since foreign celebrities are permitted to endorse alcoholic beverages without any limitations.
He pointed out the irony of restricting local citizens, who contribute taxes to the country, while allowing outsiders to engage in the same advertising that aims to dissuade the youth from alcohol consumption.
“After preventing or banning celebrities from endorsing alcoholic products then it should have also applied to foreigners or strangers doing such adverts.
“But you are banning your citizens who pay taxes to the country and tell strangers to come and do the same adverts you want the youth to stay away from.
“Proverbially, it is said that even if the two sides of the same group don’t agree on issues, it doesn’t mean we should allow outsiders to come and take our benefits away,” he stated during an interview.
“So whilst you are banning the celebrities from making genuine income from endorsements, some might look elsewhere to make money and if we don’t take care it might be through illegal means,” Dr Cryme told Amansan Krakye on Property FM.
GhanaStreetJournal previously reported that Ghanaian celebrities facing restrictions on advertising alcoholic beverages on TV and radio due to FDA guidelines have found a lifeline following a statement made by Justice Barbara Ackah-Yensu of the Supreme Court.
Justice Barbara deemed the FDA’s ban on using well-known personalities in alcohol ads as discriminatory and unconstitutional, leading to the directive being struck down.
The honourable judge, along with another judge, dissented from the majority decision that upheld the FDA’s ban on celebrities endorsing alcoholic beverages.
A report by Starr FM says Judge Barabara has labelled the directive as unconstitutional in her dissenting opinion, which was part of a 75-page judgment issued on June 19, 2024.
The opinion was shared by Justice Prof. Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu and made public on July 15, 2024. Justice Ackah-Yensu criticized the FDA guidelines as being “discriminatory.”
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