The Cruise People Limited, a Ghanaian event organizer, has officially filed a lawsuit against popular Ghanaian musician Black Sherif, alleging breach of contract. The legal dispute stems from Black Sherif’s failure to honor an agreement between the two parties, resulting in the cancellation of the Afro Cruise Jam concert in Greece for which he was scheduled to perform in August. The lawsuit, filed at the High Court, seeks various reliefs, including the return of the booking fee, compensation for lost cabin bookings, and reimbursement for lost profits.
According to the plaintiff, The Cruise People Limited, they had booked Black Sherif for the cruise event and paid an initial deposit of $20,000, which was half of his booking fee. As part of the agreement, the artist was expected to create a promotional video confirming his participation in the event. However, Black Sherif reportedly failed to provide the video as agreed, leading to the cancellation of the booking and causing a loss of $18,000 for securing cabins on the cruise ship. The event organizers argue that the artist’s failure to confirm his participation jeopardized the entire event, as his presence was crucial in attracting patrons.
The Demands of the Plaintiff
As part of the lawsuit, Cruise People Limited is seeking the following reliefs from Black Sherif:
a. Return of the $20,000 booking fee. b. Interest on the $20,000 from April 18, 2023, until the date of the final payment. c. Reimbursement of $18,000 to cover the lost cabin booking costs. d. Compensation of $50,000 for lost profits resulting from the alleged breach of contract. e. Payment of Ghc65,000.00, which was paid to the Multimedia Group for advertising the video clip that Black Sherif failed to provide. f. General damages for breach of contract. g. Costs inclusive of legal fees. h. Any other reliefs deemed fit by the Honourable Court.
On July 19, 2023, Black Sherif, whose real name is Mohammed Ismail Sharrif, was reportedly arrested at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) due to a contractual breach related to the Greece event. It was confirmed that he had been booked for the concert and had paid an initial deposit of $20,000.
Following the threat of cancellation and legal action, Black Sherif’s agents chose to refund the initial deposit, but the event organizer insisted on being reimbursed $50,000 instead. This led to a dispute as Black Sherif’s team believed the demand was unfair and inconsistent with the original agreement.
CEO of Cruise People Limited, Daniel Vanderpuye, maintained that the creation of a promotional video was part of Black Sherif’s contractual obligations. Despite the artist’s failure to provide the video, his team expressed a willingness to make any necessary changes or proposals to the agreement.
Implications for the Ghanaian Music Industry
This ongoing legal battle between The Cruise People Limited and Black Sherif has raised concerns about contractual standards and professionalism within the Ghanaian music industry. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for future disputes and encourage musicians and event organizers to be more diligent in adhering to contractual agreements.
