Cruise People Limited, the company embroiled in a contractual dispute with Ghanaian musician Black Sherif, has taken legal action by filing a lawsuit against the artist for purportedly breaching their agreement.
The lawsuit, submitted at the High Court, alleges that Black Sherif failed to uphold his end of the bargain, leading to the cancellation of the highly-anticipated Afro Cruise Jam concert, where he was slated to perform in Greece.
According to Cruise People Limited, they had secured Black Sherif’s services for the cruise event by paying half of his booking fee, which amounted to $20,000.
READ ALSO: Nana Aba Anamoah angrily reacts to reports of Serwaa Amihere’s resignation from GH One TV
As part of the agreement, they expected him to record a video confirming his participation in the event.
However, the artist reportedly did not fulfill this aspect of the agreement, resulting in the cancellation of the booking and a significant financial loss of $18,000 incurred from reserving cabins on the cruise ship.
The organizers contend that Black Sherif’s failure to confirm his participation placed the entire event at risk, as his presence was deemed essential in attracting patrons.
In light of what they perceive as a fundamental breach of the agreement, Cruise People Limited has sought legal redress to address the matter.
The lawsuit seeks the reimbursement of the $20,000 booking fee, as well as the compensation of $18,000 to cover the costs of the lost cabin bookings.
Additionally, the company is requesting interest on the $20,000 from April 18, 2023, until the final payment date. Furthermore, Cruise People Limited is pursuing $50,000 in lost profits attributed to the alleged breach of contract.
The legal action underscores the significance of upholding contractual obligations in the entertainment industry and highlights the potential financial ramifications when agreements are not honored.
As the legal proceedings unfold, both parties will have the opportunity to present their arguments before the court, and the matter will be deliberated impartially.
Below are the reliefs being sought by the plaintiff:
a. An Order directed at the Defendant to pay the Plaintiff USD20, 000.00 being the part payment of the fee paid to the Defendant;
b. Payment of interest on the USD20, 000.00 from the 18th April, 2023 up to the date of final payment;
c. An Order directed at the Defendant to pay the Plaintiff USD18, 000.00 being the money lost in securing the cabins in the cruise ship;
d. An Order directed at the Defendant to pay the Plaintiff USD50,000.00 being lost profits occasioned by the Defendant’s breach of the agreement;
e.An Order directed at the Defendant to pay to the Plaintiff the Ghc65, 000.00 which was paid to the Multimedia Group with the sole purpose of advertising the video clip of the Defendant which the Defendant refused to make available;
General damages for breach of contract;
g. Costs inclusive of legal fees.
h. Any other reliefs the Honourable Court deems fit.
Background
On the evening of July 19, 2023, Mohammed Ismail Sharrif popularly known as Black Sherif was allegedly arrested at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA)
According to reports on social media on Wednesday, the ‘Kweku The Traveller‘ singer was taken from the airport to the police headquarters in Accra due to a contractual breach involving a show that he failed to honour in Greece.
Sources close to the musician confirmed that he had indeed been booked for the event and paid an initial deposit of $20,000.
Amidst threats of cancellation and lawsuits, the singer’s agents chose to refund the initial deposit, but the event organizer insisted on being reimbursed $50,000 instead.
In response, Black Sherif’s agents found the demand to be unfair and inconsistent with the initial agreement.
CEO of Cruise People Limited, Daniel Vanderpuye, maintained that a promotional video was part of Black Sherif’s obligations.
Despite the artist’s failure to provide the video, his team expressed readiness to make any necessary changes or proposals to the agreement.
As the legal proceedings unfold, both parties await a resolution that will determine the outcome of this unfortunate ordeal.
The implications of the case could have broader implications for the Ghanaian music industry and have already prompted discussions on contractual standards and professionalism within the sector.
READ ALSO: Don’t act as a maid to your boyfriend – Kafui Danku tells young ladies
