Ground Up Chale and its founder Glen Boateng have initiated legal action against Ghanaian rapper Kwesi Arthur, accusing him of libel over statements made on social media earlier this month.
According to a writ of summons filed at the High Court in Accra on 27 January 2026, and sighted by myjoyonline.com, the plaintiffs are seeking damages exceeding GH₵10 million, alongside a series of court orders aimed at compelling the removal and retraction of the disputed comments.
The suit asks the court to declare that several statements published by Kwesi Arthur on 21 January 2026were defamatory and libelous. Ground Up Chale is also requesting an injunction to restrain the artist from making or circulating further alleged defamatory remarks, as well as a public apology and retraction to be issued with the same prominence as the original posts.
In addition to these reliefs, the plaintiffs are seeking:
- General damages of GH₵5 million
- Special damages of GH₵2 million for alleged economic harm and lost business opportunities
- Aggravated and exemplary damages amounting to GH₵3 million
- Legal costs
The lawsuit centers on five key allegations attributed to Kwesi Arthur in his social media posts. In them, the rapper claimed he had been asked to pay US$150,000 to use images of himself for an independent project and alleged that Ground Up Chale “claims to own me, my image, my music, and everything attached to it from 2016 to this day.”
He further asserted that he had “not made a dime” from his music during his time with the label and accused its management of threats, manipulation, and attempts to block the release of his current work.
One of the most serious claims stated:
“If anything happens to me Glen Boateng and all team members of Ground Up Chale are responsible and should be held responsible.”
These allegations sparked intense debate online, drawing reactions from fans, industry players, and advocates for artists’ rights. Supporters of the rapper quickly mobilised under hashtags such as #FreeKwesiArthur, reigniting broader conversations around contract fairness in Ghana’s music industry.
Label’s Response
Ground Up Chale’s legal counsel, Jonathan K. Amable, has publicly rejected several of Kwesi Arthur’s claims. Speaking during a Joy FM X Spaces discussion, Mr Amable stated that the label did not restrict the artist from using his personal image broadly, but only from using audio-visual content produced by the company during their contractual relationship.
He also disclosed portions of email correspondence and financial records indicating that Kwesi Arthur received £91,370 in royalties, along with additional payments from distribution deals countering the assertion that the artist earned no income while signed to the label.
Mr Amable added that a contract signed in 2017 granted Ground Up Chale ownership rights over works created within that period, stressing that the dispute fundamentally concerns contractual rights over past material. He maintained that the company is prepared to fully defend its legal and commercial interests in court.
Background
Kwesi Arthur rose to national prominence after joining the Ground Up Chale collective in 2017. His music has played a significant role in shaping contemporary Ghanaian hip-hop, resonating strongly with younger audiences through hit songs such as Grind Day and Winning.
As of the time of publication, Kwesi Arthur has not publicly responded to the legal action.
Source : JoyNews
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