By Seli Baisie
Renowned Ghanaian musician Black Sherif has been reportedly arrested at the Kotoka International Airport on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, following a contract breach allegation made by a company named, Cruise People Limited.
According to reports, the controversy arose from an agreement between Black Sherif’s management team and Cruise People Limited.
The contract stated that the artiste was slated to perform on a cruise starting August 19, 2023, for which he had received partial payment.
However, tensions escalated when the company demanded promotional videos for a press launch, which were not initially specified in the contract.
Cruise People Limited claims that they had made an initial deposit of $20,000, but the lack of promotional videos led to a refund of the deposit by the singer’s agents.
Consequently, the company is now seeking compensation for additional losses incurred due to the cancellation of the cruise event.
From the look of things, the issue primarily stems from a misunderstanding between the cruise organizers and the Blacko’s agency, not the artiste.
The musician’s arrest occurred upon his return from a successful European tour, adding to the gravity of the situation.
As the legal process unfolds, the music industry and fans eagerly await further updates on the matter.
It is important to note that these are allegations at this stage, and the final outcome will be determined by the ongoing investigation and legal proceedings.
Both parties involved are expected to present their respective arguments to the appropriate authorities to resolve the contract dispute.
Attached below a copy of a press statement by Cruise People Limited
Cruise People Limited (Your Cruise People) engaged the management of Mohammed Sharrif (Black Sherrif) for the artist to perform at the second edition of its musical cruise onboard a cruise ship dubbed Afro Cruise Jam, on August 19, 2023 in Greece.
The first edition, which was held last year, featured Grammy awards winner – Gramps Morgan of Morgan Heritage fame and Abrantie Amakye Dede and his Apollo High-Kings.
Cruise People Ltd was charged Forty Thousand United States Dollars ($40,000); and was further agreed between Cruise People Ltd., the artiste and his booking agents (United Talent Agency a.k.a Echo Location Talent Agency) that an initial payment of Twenty Thousand United States Dollars ($20,000) shall be paid to him to firm up the agreement and in return he will record a video confirming his participation and availability for the said show on the cruise ship at the agreed dates.
The company proceeded to pay the initial deposit via swift bank transfer to his London account as agreed and the artiste acknowledged receipt of payment.
Following a series of email correspondences between Cruise People Ltd. and artist, the company reiterated to him that they needed the video recording of him confirming his performance on the cruise ship on the dates agreed upon and went further to notify him that they had arranged a media engagement with Multimedia Group on Friday 19th May, 2023 @ 3pm for which the said video clip announcing his performance and availability for the event on the cruise ship will be broadcasted to elicit enhanced marketability of the event.
He unequivocally represented to us that the video clip will be ready even before the broadcast date duly communicated to him and hence they went ahead and paid for the media broadcast.
Given the firm assurances from him and his outfit that the video clip will be ready and available for the media broadcast, they went ahead to make deposits and secured cabins on the cruise ship and other incidental arrangements in anticipation of enhanced interests and patronage of purchase of cruise tickets that the media broadcast shall generate.
Regrettably, he failed, refused and / or neglected to make the video clip available to Cruise People Ltd. to be broadcasted on the 19th May, 2023 @3 pm, the time scheduled. The media encounter with multimedia group was held without the input of the video clip from him announcing his performance at the event contrary to earlier agreement between them.
As a result of his failure to confirm his participation, the cabins on the cruise ship which were paid for and reserved at a discounted price had to be cancelled and deposits lost since the expected interests and patronage of the event could not be guaranteed. He deliberately failed to perform his part of the agreement despite several reminders sent to his agents.
The company’s lawyers wrote and informed him, his management and booking agents on May 23, 2023 about the breach of agreement and till date, they didn’t reply.
At this point, they had no option than to report his fraudulent actions to the police and proceed to court for redress and seek reliefs.
