An Accra-based events organiser, Jamrok Bar and Event Center, is taking legal action against Ghanaian artist Mr Drew and DJ Filter for failing to perform at a scheduled event despite receiving partial payment. The plaintiff is seeking damages amounting to GHC200,000 from the duo.
According to a Facebook post by the events organiser, the suit was filed on April 15, 2024, at the Senchi District Court. The suit alleges that Mr Drew and DJ Filter did not show up at an event on Easter Monday after an earlier arrangement and partial payment of GHC15,000.
Jamrok Bar and Event Center is requesting the court to order the recovery of the GHC15,000 paid to Mr Drew, as well as additional compensation for the full expenses of the event, which total GHC36,511. The events organiser also claims that Mr Drew’s absence significantly harmed their reputation, and is therefore demanding GHC200,000 in damages.
Furthermore, the plaintiff alleges that their investigations revealed a pattern where several other event organisers have had similar experiences with Mr Drew. The musician is yet to respond to the suit and the issues raised in the writ.
Earlier on April 5, Jamrok issued a statement announcing the cancellation of a planned Easter event due to Mr Drew’s failure to show up for the concert. The statement mentioned that everything was set for the event, but the artiste backed out at the last minute when the concert was about to commence.
The statement from Jamrok revealed that despite paying the artiste 50% of his performance fee in advance, Mr Drew and his team were unreachable on the day of the event and eventually left the hotel without performing. The events organiser had scheduled to pay the remaining amount to the artiste after his performance.
The legal proceedings against Mr Drew and DJ Filter shed light on the importance of musicians honoring their commitments to event organisers, and the repercussions of failing to do so on both the organisers’ finances and reputation.