Court dismisses injunction to stop Black Sherif from performing his songs

An Accra High Court has dismissed an application seeking to restrict Ghanaian hip-hop artiste Black Sherif from performing his songs.

It will be recalled that the fast-rising star Mohammed Ismail Sherif, was sued by his ex-financier for an alleged breach of contract.

He is said to have terminated an earlier agreement with the Chief Executive Officer of Waynes Chavis Consult, Shadrach Agyei Owusu, through his solicitors on Friday, 8 April 2022.

After terminating the contract, Black Sherif reportedly signed a distribution deal with Empire Entertainment without the approval of his investor, Shadrach Agyei Owusu.

The dissatisfied manager and investor subsequently filed a writ at the High Court on Monday, 11 April 2022, to stop Black Sheriff from performing at events and accessing funds.

However, the injunction was dismissed on Tuesday, 26 July 2022, after the court held that the plaintiff, Mr. Agyei Owusu failed to argue justifiably why the injunction should be granted.

The High Court judge, Justice Akua Sarpomaa Amoah, stated that Black Sherif will suffer an injustice if the motion was approved, per a report by Ghana Weekend.

Per the ruling, Black Sherif’s team led by Samson Lardy Anyenini also provided unchallenged evidence that proved that their client was not in breach of the contract he had with his ex-manager and was not bound by it when he left Mr. Agyei Owusu’s camp.

The plaintiff was seeking the following reliefs;

a. An order of injunction to restrain the Defendant/Respondent, his agents, assigns, workmen and associates from performing at events or entering into agreements to perform at events or otherwise exploit his music and image without recourse to the Plaintiff/ Applicant.

b. An order for the preservation of all funds that has accrued to the Defendant/Respondent from online streaming platforms and other revenue sources.

c. An order for the appointment of a Receiver to receive any and all funds that may accrue to the Defendant/ Respondent from the use and exploitation of his music and image.

d. Any further Order that this Court may deem fit.

Mr Agyei Owusu said until the final determination of the matters in dispute, the Respondent (Black Sheriff) should be prevented from performing at events without his consent.

The suit came at a time when Black Sherif’s latest song ‘Kwaku The Traveller’ is topping global charts, making him the most sought-after artiste in Ghana.