Breach of Contract: Cruise People Limited Demands $ 1,00,000 In Damages From Black Sherif

The Cruise People Limited. the company at the centre of ongoing contractual dispute with Ghanaian musician, Black Sherif has officially filed a lawsuit against him for alleged beach of contract.

The suit, which was filed at the High Court, claims that the artist failed to honour the agreement between the two parties, resulting in the cancellation of the Afro Cruise Jam concert for which he had been scheduled to perform in August.

According to the plaintiff, after booking Black Sherif for the cruise event and paying half of his booking fee ($20,000), they expected him to create a video confirming his participation in the Greece-based event.

However, the artist reportedly did not provide the video as agreed, leading to the cancellation of the booking and a loss of $18,000 for securing cabins on the cruise ship.

The event organizers argue that Black Sherif’s failure to confirm his participation jeopardized the entire event, as his availability was crucial to attracting patronage.

This conduct, they claim, constitutes a fundamental breach of the agreement and warrants legal action.

As part of the lawsuit, Cruise People Limited is seeking the return of the $20,000 booking fee, as well as $18,000 to cover the lost cabin booking costs. They are also demanding interest on the $20,000 from April 18, 2023, until the date of the final payment. Additionally, the organizers are seeking $50,000 in lost profits resulting from the alleged breach of contract.

Below are the reliefs being sought by the plaintiff:

a. An Order directed at the Defendant to pay the Plaintiff USD20, 000.00 being the part payment of the fee paid to the Defendant;

b. Payment of interest on the USD20, 000.00 from the 18th April, 2023 up to the date of final payment;

c. An Order directed at the Defendant to pay the Plaintiff USD18, 000.00 being the money lost in securing the cabins in the cruise ship;

d. An Order directed at the Defendant to pay the Plaintiff USD50,000.00 being lost profits occasioned by the Defendant’s breach of the agreement;

e.An Order directed at the Defendant to pay to the Plaintiff the Ghc65, 000.00 which was paid to the Multimedia Group with the sole purpose of advertising the video clip of the Defendant which the Defendant refused to make available;

General damages for breach of contract;

g. Costs inclusive of legal fees.

h. Any other reliefs the Honourable Court deems fit.

Background

On the evening of July 19, 2023, Mohammed Ismail Sharrif popularly known as Black Sherif was allegedly arrested at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA)

According to reports on social media on Wednesday, the ‘Kweku The Traveller’ singer was taken from the airport to the police headquarters in Accra due to a contractual breach involving a show that he failed to honour in Greece.

Sources close to the musician confirmed that he had indeed been booked for the event and paid an initial deposit of $20,000.

Amidst threats of cancellation and lawsuits, the singer’s agents chose to refund the initial deposit, but the event organizer insisted on being reimbursed $50,000 instead.

In response, Black Sherif’s agents found the demand to be unfair and inconsistent with the initial agreement.

CEO of Cruise People Limited, Daniel Vanderpuye, maintained that a promotional video was part of Black Sherif’s obligations.

Despite the artist’s failure to provide the video, his team expressed readiness to make any necessary changes or proposals to the agreement.

As the legal proceedings unfold, both parties await a resolution that will determine the outcome of this unfortunate ordeal.

The implications of the case could have broader implications for the Ghanaian music industry and have already prompted discussions on contractual standards and professionalism within the sector.