In a significant legal win for Mohammed Ismail Sharrif, widely known as Black Sherif, the High Court at Adenta dismissed a lawsuit filed by Cruise People Ltd. on November 16, 2023. The case centered around an alleged breach of a performance contract by Black Sherif’s team.
The dispute arose from a scheduled performance by Black Sherif on a Cruise Ship in Athens, Greece, slated for August 19, 2023. Cruise People Ltd., the promoter represented by Daniel Vanderpuje, terminated the contract before the show, citing publicity breaches. Following the termination, the promoter sought a refund of the $20,000 deposit from Black Sherif. However, Black Sherif’s team resisted, claiming entitlement to compensation for the unilateral contract termination.
Black Sherif’s legal team, led by Dominic Brenya-Otchere, Kenneth Paa Kwesi Agyir, and Esther Addai of Sam Okudzeto and Associates, successfully moved to strike out the lawsuit. They argued that the contract’s dispute resolution clause mandated settling any conflicts exclusively in the United Kingdom. The High Court Judge, in agreement, ruled that the matter lacked a close connection to Ghana, emphasizing the parties’ apparent preference for dispute resolution in the UK.
As of now, there is no pending suit against Black Sherif regarding the contract with Cruise People Ltd. A source close to Black Sherif hinted that if Cruise People Ltd. pursues legal action in the proper forum, they would counterclaim for the full contract sum, interest, and damages for breach of contract.
The Plaintiff, represented by Lawyer Godwin Edudzi Tamekloe, Director of Legal Affairs of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), may have further legal actions ahead, but for now, Black Sherif celebrates the court’s decision in his favor.
