Source: newsthemegh.com
A lawsuit attempting to declare the Food and Drugs Authority’s (FDA) regulations, which forbid celebrities from endorsing alcoholic beverages, unlawful was dismissed by the Supreme Court.
The FDA established regulations in 2016 regarding food and beverage advertising, which prohibited the use of celebrities or professionals in ads for alcoholic beverages.
Reggie N Bollie’s manager, Mark Darlington Osae, contested the directive on grounds of discrimination and unconstitutionality.
He sued the FDA at the highest court, pleading with the judge to uphold his claim by interpreting articles 17(1) and 17(2) of the constitution and awarding him an injunction.
But today, Wednesday, June 19, 2024, the Supreme Court—headed by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo—upheld the legitimacy of the FDA’s mandate by a majority vote of 5-2.
Well-known members of the creative community, such as Camidoh, Brother Sammy, Kuami Eugene, Wendy Shay, and Shatta Wale, had expressed their disapproval of the policy and called for its repeal.
They contended that the prohibition hurts their ability to make a living and that supporting alcoholic beverages is an essential source of revenue for the creative arts sector.