Veteran highlife artist Rex Omar has openly voiced his discontent with the Supreme Court’s recent decision to uphold the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ban on celebrities endorsing alcohol in advertisements.
In an interview on 3FM, Rex Omar argued about
the court’s ruling, questioning its underlying logic and fairness.
He stated
“Although I’m not a lawyer and have no plans to challenge the court’s decision, I find it hard to understand why celebrities are prohibited from endorsing alcohol while the sale of alcohol itself continues,”
Drawing a parallel with drug advertisements. He argued, Are we saying alcohol is bad? If alcohol is bad, ban it.
“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?”
Rex went on to suggest some alternative approach by saying that,
“Celebrities could endorse alcohol products with the condition of including a disclaimer. This disclaimer would advise consumers to enjoy the beverages responsibly, potentially balancing the interests of advertisers, consumers, and public health advocates.”
Rex Omar’s comments add a notable voice to the ongoing debate about the role of celebrity influence in alcohol advertising in Ghana after the Supreme Court of Ghana confirmed the constitutionality of the FDA’s guidelines prohibiting celebrities from advertising alcoholic beverages.
