Telecel Ghana Acknowledges GHS 2 Million Lawsuit Over Alleged Unauthorised Use of Makola Trader’s Image
Telecommunications company, Telecel Ghana, has confirmed it is reviewing a GH¢2 million legal claim filed against it by Madam Faustina Djagbele Abbey, an onion trader at Makola Market, over the alleged unauthorised use of her image in a promotional campaign for its ‘Telecel Red Save’ product.
In a press release issued on Thursday, June 19, the company stated that it had “become aware of media reports of a legal claim filed by Madam Faustina Djagbele Abbey alleging the use of her photograph without her consent in relation to our Telecel Red Save product campaign.”
While not admitting liability, Telecel Ghana, operated by Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited, reaffirmed its commitment to ethical standards in the use of personal data and imagery.
“We wish to assure the public that we take matters of privacy, imagery consent and intellectual property seriously,” the company said, adding that it is actively reviewing the matter and urged the public to allow the legal process to take its course.
Filed on May 23, 2025, by Madam Abbey through her counsel, Bernard Owiredu Donkor of Thompson Law Consult, the suit claims her image was used across multiple platforms, including social media, to promote the digital savings product without her knowledge or authorisation.
According to the statement of claim, the unauthorised use of the photograph has led to reputational and psychological distress, with Madam Abbey asserting that friends, family, and customers now wrongly assume she has received significant financial compensation from the company. This, she alleges, has strained personal relationships and negatively affected her mental wellbeing.
The development comes at a time of heightened global and national scrutiny on issues of data protection, image rights, and personal privacy in commercial advertising—particularly in the digital space where content dissemination is rapid and widespread.
The case is likely to test Ghana’s legal protections around image rights and may set precedent for how corporate entities obtain and use personal likeness in marketing campaigns.
Telecel Ghana has yet to file a formal response in court but has assured the public of its cooperation with the ongoing legal proceedings.
