The High Court in Accra has granted permission for Ghanaian rapper Medikal to be served with legal documents through his social media platforms, after gospel group Alabaster Box failed to reach him with a copyright infringement suit.
The court approved a motion for substituted service on June 12, 2025, following several unsuccessful attempts to deliver the writ of summons in person. The new directive permits the documents to be shared via Medikal’s verified Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, as well as through the WhatsApp account of his manager, Kofi Jam.
The order also mandates that a copy be pasted on the High Court’s notice board at the Law Court Complex in Accra.
The suit arises from claims that Medikal illegally sampled Alabaster Box’s popular song “Akwaaba” in his track “Welcome to Africa.” The group argues that the rapper’s version uses the opening ten seconds of their work without permission and laces it with “expressive profanity, vulgarity and unprintable words,” which they say has damaged their reputation.
In their statement of claim, Alabaster Box is demanding GH₵15 million in damages; GH₵10 million for copyright infringement and GH₵5 million in exemplary damages for what they describe as the rapper’s deliberate disregard for their intellectual property.
The group, known for their global performances, including one before Queen Elizabeth at Westminster Abbey, insists they hold exclusive copyright to “Akwaaba” in both Ghana and the UK. They contend that the alleged misuse of the track not only violates their legal rights but also taints the moral integrity of their brand.
In addition to monetary compensation, the group is requesting that the court compel Medikal to disclose all earnings from the song and remove it from every streaming platform.
So far, Medikal has not publicly responded to the lawsuit.
