Sarkodie Takes Legal Action Against Ecobank Ghana Over Lookalike in Ad Campaign

Sarkodie, the Ghanaian rap legend, is taking Ecobank Ghana to court.

The reason? A recent ad campaign by the bank used a man who looks remarkably like the rapper, and Sarkodie says it was done without his permission.

Why Is Sarkodie Suing?

The lawsuit, filed at the High Court in Accra, claims that Ecobank’s campaign, called #ItsGivingScam, used a lookalike of Sarkodie — but didn’t get his consent. Sarkodie argues that this is a violation of his intellectual property rights and is damaging his personal brand.

According to the legal documents he shared, he’s not just upset about the lookalike; he says the unauthorized use has led to reputational harm and financial losses.

In the court filing, he’s seeking:

• General damages for the harm done to his reputation
• An injunction to stop the bank from using his image again
• An injunction to stop the bank from using his image again
• The removal of all media associated with the campaign

What’s the Backlash?

As soon as the campaign aired, it didn’t take long for people on social media to speak up. Many fans criticized Ecobank for choosing to use a lookalike rather than reaching out to the real deal — Sarkodie himself, or even King Promise, who’s already partnered with the bank. Some felt it was a cheap move, trying to capitalize on Sarkodie’s image without paying for it.

Adding fuel to the fire, the actor who played the lookalike is reportedly connected to First Bank Ghana in a creative role — raising more eyebrows about the decision-making process behind the campaign.

So, What’s the Real Problem?

It’s more than just this one ad. Sarkodie’s lawsuit has everyone talking about how much control celebs have over their own image. When does it go from creative expression to just taking advantage of someone’s likeness for profit?

For people in the entertainment biz, this case is probably raising some serious questions about how far is too far when it comes to using public figures for marketing purposes — and how much respect their work and image deserve.