Ghanaian female afropop/afrobeats singer and self acclaimed dance hall queen Wendy Shay has disclosed that she lost a deal worth thousands of dollars because of guidelines stipulated by Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).
According to the ‘Uber driver’ hit maker, she found out her deal had fallen through after discovering that the FDA does not permit Ghanaian celebrities to advertise alcoholic beverages in the country.
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in 2015, banned celebrities from advertising alcoholic beverages as an adherence to a World Health Organization (WHO) policy.
According to the Authority, the ban was part of efforts to ensure that minors are protected from being lured into alcoholism.
Per the FDA’s guidelines, it states with regard to advertisement targeted at minors as follows:
3.3.2. Product endorsement by well-known personalities or professionals shall not directly or indirectly suggest that the consumption of any alcoholic beverage has contributed to the success of their particular endeavours.
3.3.3. No well-known personality or professional shall be used in alcoholic beverage advertising who may reasonably be expected to appeal, either directly or indirectly, to persons under the legal drinking age if the advertisement contains any direct or indirect endorsement of alcoholic beverage or the consumption of alcoholic beverage.
As result of the above guidelines, Wendy Shay is not permitted to advertise for alcoholic beverage- which seems to be the product for which she secured the deal.
She called on the FDA to lift the ban citing that it is a source of income for them even as celebrities.
Wendy Shay made this disclosure in a social media post…..
I just lost a deal worth 1000s‘ of dollars with this foreign alcohol company..I didn’t know in GH Celebrities can’t advertise for alcoholic beverages according to FDA.
Like Seriously?! Small food we go chop too u wan take 4rm our mouth Gh celebs wake up !!FDA Lift dat ban!!
