Music label Ground Up Chale and its founder, Glen Boateng, have filed a defamation suit against Ghanaian rapper Kwesi Arthur at the High Court in Accra, seeking damages exceeding GH₵10 million over statements made on social media. The writ of summons, filed on January 27, 2026, accuses the artist of libel and asks the court to declare his comments defamatory, order their removal, restrain further publication, and compel a public apology and retraction with the same prominence as the original posts.
According to court documents, the plaintiffs are seeking GH₵5 million in general damages, GH₵2 million in special damages for alleged economic losses and missed business opportunities, GH₵3 million in aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as legal costs. The case centres on a series of statements Kwesi Arthur published on January 21, 2026, in which he alleged he was being asked to pay $150,000 to use images of himself for an independent project and claimed the label asserted ownership over his image, music and career dating back to 2016. He further alleged he earned nothing from his music during his time with the label and accused management of threats, manipulation and attempts to block his current releases.
One of the most contentious claims warned that if “anything happens” to him, Glen Boateng and the Ground Up Chale team should be held responsible. The comments sparked intense debate online, drawing support for the rapper from fans and industry figures under hashtags such as #FreeKwesiArthur, and reigniting conversations about artist rights and contract transparency in Ghana’s music industry.
Ground Up Chale’s lawyer, Jonathan K. Amable, has rejected the allegations, insisting the label did not bar the artist from using his image generally, but only restricted the use of visuals and footage produced by the company during the period covered by their contract. Speaking during a Joy FM X Spaces discussion, Mr Amable cited email correspondence indicating Kwesi Arthur received royalties totalling £91,370, alongside other payments, disputing claims that the artist earned nothing. He said the 2017 contract granted the label ownership rights over works created during that time and described the dispute as a contractual disagreement over past material, which the company is prepared to contest in court.
Kwesi Arthur rose to prominence after signing with Ground Up Chale in 2017 and became one of the most influential voices in Ghana’s hip-hop scene, with hits such as Grind Day and Winning. As of publication, the musician had not publicly responded to the lawsuit.
