The High Court in Accra has delivered a judgment in the legal battle between music superstar Black Sherif and his former management, characterising his contractual breach as ‘technical’.
In a ruling by Justice Afia Adu-Amankwa at the Commercial Division, the court dismissed the overwhelming majority of financial claims brought by Shadrach Owusu Agyei, operating as Charvis Wayne’s Consult.
The plaintiff had sought a series of orders, including a 20% share of all the artist’s earnings, payment of over GHs1.1 million in alleged investments, and $24,000 for accommodation.
However, the court found that the plaintiff failed to substantiate these core allegations. Justice Adu-Amankwa held that while a management agreement existed, claims of unaccounted earnings, retained revenue, and financial losses were not supported by evidence.
The court further noted that the plaintiff did not render full accounts as required and failed to demonstrate continued performance of his managerial duties after the agreement’s termination.
The sole finding against the artist, born Mohammed Ismail Sherif, was that his engagement with a third party during the active period of the management contract constituted a breach. Essentially, the court emphasised this was a limited infraction.
The Court held that Black Sherif’s engagement with a third party during the subsistence of the management agreement constituted a technical breach of contract, adding that no substantial loss was proven to have resulted from this action.
Consequently, the court awarded only nominal damages of GH₵50,000 for this technical breach, a fraction of the millions sought by the plaintiff. All other reliefs, including the claims for a share of earnings, reimbursement for investments, and accommodation costs, were dismissed entirely.
In a further sign of the court’s view on the case’s merits, costs of GH₵15,000 were awarded against the plaintiff, Charvis Wayne’s Consult, to cover reasonable expenses and legal representation incurred by Black Sherif.
