Celebrated Ghanaian hip-life artiste Michael Owusu Addo, better known as Sarkodie, has initiated legal action against Ecobank Ghana—the country’s largest bank by asset valuation—alleging that the institution unlawfully exploited his image in connection with its products without his consent.
Filed on March 25, 2025, the lawsuit contends that Ecobank Ghana’s use of Sarkodie’s image constitutes a clear infringement of his intellectual property rights.
Central to the suit is a demand for a “perpetual injunction” that would permanently bar the bank, its agents, and assigns from associating his image with any of its products and services.
In addition, Sarkodie is seeking compensation for what his legal team describes as the unauthorized commercial exploitation of his likeness.
The Plaintiff’s claim specifies the following relief against the Defendant:
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A declaration that the conduct of the Defendant in publishing the image of the Plaintiff in relation to its product is a breach of the intellectual property rights of the Plaintiff.
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A declaration that the conduct of the Defendant in publishing the image of the Plaintiff in relation to its product is in breach of the provisions of the Protection Against Unfair Competition Act, 2000. Act 589.
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An order of perpetual injunction to restrain the Defendant, its agents and assigns, from associating the image of the Plaintiff with its products without the consent of the Plaintiff.
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An order for the Defendant to withdraw all publications of his image in relation to its products.
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An order for the Defendant to pay damages as compensation for breach of the intellectual property rights of the Plaintiff.
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Costs.
Sarkodie’s legal team argues that Ecobank Ghana’s unauthorized use of his image not only misappropriates his personal brand but also undermines the legal framework designed to protect creative and personal rights in the evolving digital and commercial landscape.
