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An onion seller at Makola Market in Accra, Faustina Djagbele Abbey, has filed a GH¢2 million lawsuit against telecom giant Telecel Ghana over what she claims is an unauthorized use of her image in marketing campaigns.
Filed at the High Court on May 23, 2025, the suit alleges that Telecel used Madam Abbey’s image without her consent to promote its digital savings product, ‘Telecel Red Save,’ across various advertising platforms, including social media, billboards, and traditional media.
Her lawyer, Bernard Owiredu Donkor of Thompson Law Consult, argues that the use of her likeness without permission is a violation of her privacy and personal liberties under Ghana’s Data Protection Act, 2012 (Act 843), which mandates consent before processing personal data for commercial purposes.
According to the Statement of Claim, Madam Abbey only became aware of the advertisements when customers and acquaintances began recognizing her in the promotional materials. The publicity, she claims, has caused emotional distress and strained personal relationships, with some individuals wrongly assuming she has gained wealth through affiliation with the telecom company.
The lawsuit seeks both GH¢2 million in damages and declaratory reliefs, including a court order directing Telecel to remove all advertisements featuring her image. If successful, the case could set a legal precedent for image rights and privacy protections in Ghana’s rapidly expanding digital marketing environment.
