Faustina Djagbele Abbey, a popular onion seller at ‘KwasiaDwaso’ near Makola Market in Accra, has sued telecommunications company Telecel Ghana for allegedly using her photograph in an advertisement, without her consent.
In a statement of claim, the plaintiff stated that her photograph was used as the face for projecting, advertising, and marketing a product known as the “Telecel Red Save”, a digital savings account with the Telecel Cash Platform, which allows users to save money and earn interest without her consent.
According to her, the commercial publication was brought to her attention sometime in February 2025 when some of her customers started complimenting her for her appearances on traditional media, billboards, and social media.
She states that while some of her neighbours, including her church members, also started greeting her with amusement, other associates, including her colleague traders demanded monies from her as they perceived she must have made a fortune from Telecel for the advertisement.
The development, she said has caused her immense discomfort and inconvenience in her relations with colleague traders, customers, neighbours, church and family members, described the action of Telecel as exploitative and an abuse of her rights.
Among other reliefs, the plaintiff is praying the High Court to order Telecel Ghana to pay GH₵ 2million as compensation for breaches of her “privacy” and “personal liberties.”
She also seeks that all advertisements of “Telecel Red Save” bearing her image, including advertisements on billboards traditional and social media platforms, be pulled down.
