Legendary actor and producer, Oscar Provencal has reacted to the ban on celebrities promoting and endorsing alcoholic beverages.
According to him, the directive by the Authority is ridiculous as it prevents some public figures from earning a living as they get remuneration from such advertisements.
Oscar Provencal who is widely known as Inspector Bediako made these assertions in an interview on Joy Prime.
“It is one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard in my entire life. Who is a celebrity? Who defines a celebrity? Today you can have instant celebrities; somebody who is a ‘nobody’ and tomorrow overnight is viral and so is a celebrity. Why would you want to stop somebody from earning a living because he’s a celebrity? We have celebrity lawyers, doctors, etc. It’s ridiculous to the core.”
Mr. Provencal who once featured in an alcoholic beverage advert for Club Beer believes the FDA’s decision is unwarranted.
He called for a re-consideration of the law to allow celebrities live freely and earn a living.
Background
In 2015, the Food and Drug Authority banned celebrities from participating in alcoholic beverage advertisements.
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The Authority explained that its decision is an adherence to a World Health Organisation (WHO) policy.
The FDA stressed that the ban is part of efforts to protect minors from being influenced into alcoholism.
However, in November 2022, some stakeholders dragged the FDA to the Supreme Court over the authority’s decision to ban the advertisement of alcohol by celebrities.
Some personalities like Shatta Wale, Brother Sammy, Kuami Eugene, George Quaye, and Camidoh, had all spoken against the FDA’s decision.
They have called on authorities to reverse the decision prior to the court action initiated by Mark Darlington.
Meanwhile, a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court chaired by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, fixed April 10, 2024, to deliver judgement on the case.