Ground Up Chale, founder sues Kwesi Arthur, demands over ₵10 million in damages
Music label Ground Up Chale, together with its founder Glen Boateng, has initiated a libel lawsuit against rapper Kwesi Arthur at the High Court in Accra, claiming more than GH₵10 million in total damages over a series of allegedly defamatory social media statements posted by the artist on January 21, 2026.
According to the writ of summons filed on January 27, 2026, the plaintiffs are asking the court to declare the rapper’s remarks libelous and defamatory, to compel the immediate and permanent removal of the contested Instagram and X posts along with any related content, to issue a permanent injunction barring Kwesi Arthur and his representatives from making or spreading similar statements in the future, and to require a formal public apology and retraction published with equivalent visibility to the original posts.
The suit further seeks general damages of GH₵5 million to compensate for reputational harm caused by the libel, special damages of GH₵2 million to cover proven economic losses and missed business opportunities, as well as aggravated and exemplary damages of GH₵3 million, in addition to full legal costs.
The controversy is on the back of Kwesi Arthur’s January 21 post in which he claimed Ground Up Chale was demanding USD 150,000 before he could use his own images in an independent project, accused the label of asserting ownership over his image, music, and related rights dating back to 2016, insisted he had earned nothing from his music during his time with the company, alleged threats, manipulation, and deliberate efforts to sabotage the release of his new material, and issued a particularly alarming warning that if any harm came to him, Glen Boateng and the entire Ground Up Chale team should be held responsible.
The statements quickly generated intense online discussion, prompting widespread concern about artist contracts, image rights, and power dynamics in the Ghanaian music industry, while supporters mobilised behind the rapper under hashtags including #FreeKwesiArthur.
In response, Ground Up Chale’s legal counsel, Jonathan K. Amable, has dismissed several of the core allegations during a Joy FM X Spaces session, explaining that the label only limited the use of company-produced footage and visuals tied to their past contractual relationship rather than broadly restricting the artist’s personal image rights.
He also shared evidence of royalty payments totaling £91,370 and additional earnings from distribution agreements to refute the claim of zero income, stressing that the 2017 contract clearly granted the label ownership of material created during that partnership.
Kwesi Arthur first gained national recognition after joining Ground Up Chale in 2017, where his distinctive style and tracks such as “Grind Day” and “Winning” played a major role in shaping contemporary Ghanaian hip-hop and connecting with younger listeners.
