Celebrities may seek illicit means of income; Dr Cryme on celebrity alcohol ban
Renowned rapper and singer Dr Cryme has voiced his discontent with the Food and Drugs Authority’s (FDA) ban on Ghanaian celebrities endorsing alcohol, calling it discriminatory and potentially harmful.
In a recent interview, Dr Cryme expressed concern that the ban, upheld by the Supreme Court, may drive local celebrities to seek alternative, possibly illicit, means of income.
He argued that the ban unfairly restricts Ghanaian citizens who contribute to the country’s tax base while allowing foreign celebrities to promote alcoholic beverages without limitations.
Dr Cryme emphasized the irony of this situation, stating, “You’re banning your citizens who pay taxes, but allowing strangers to come and do the same adverts you want the youth to stay away from.”
His comments come after the Supreme Court’s recent decision, in which Justice Barbara Ackah-Yensu dissented, labeling the FDA’s ban as discriminatory and unconstitutional.
Despite this, the majority decision upheld the ban, leaving many Ghanaian celebrities facing restrictions on advertising alcoholic beverages.
Dr Cryme’s concerns highlight the potential consequences of this ban, including the possibility of celebrities seeking alternative, potentially illegal, means of income. He urged the authorities to reconsider the ban, emphasizing the need for fair treatment of local celebrities.
Darlington Agyekum, a rapper from Ghana and an early supporter of the country’s “twipop” genre, goes by the stage name Dr Cryme.
In addition, Dr. Cryme is the CEO of Twipop Recordz and has presented TV shows. Tema is where Agyekum was born, and he started playing music during school days.
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