An Accra High Court has granted the group permission to effect ‘substituted service’
Renowned gospel acappella group Alabaster Box has reportedly secured a court ruling in their ongoing copyright dispute with rapper Samuel Adu Frimpong, popularly known as Medikal.
According to court documents shared by GhanaWeekend, the Accra High Court, on June 12, 2025, granted the group permission to effect substituted service—allowing them to deliver crucial legal documents through non-traditional means after repeated, unsuccessful attempts to reach Medikal in person.
The dispute began in April 2025, when Alabaster Box filed a writ of summons alleging that Medikal’s song Welcome to Africa improperly sampled their acclaimed hit Akwaaba.
According to the group, the opening ten seconds of Medikal’s track replicate the melody, lyrical structure, and even the title of their original song, elements that not only infringe upon their copyright but also tarnish their brand due to the track’s association with “profanity, vulgarity, and unprintable words.”
In their legal claim, Alabaster Box is seeking GH₵15 million in damages—GH₵10 million for general copyright infringement and an additional GH₵5 million in exemplary damages, citing reputational harm.
They are also demanding:
The complete removal of Welcome to Africa from all streaming platforms,
An injunction against further public performances of the song, and
A full financial breakdown of all revenues generated from the track.
These demands were backed by five specific pre-court notices issued in early April.
Despite these formal requests, Medikal only removed the contentious intro on YouTube, leaving the unedited versions on platforms such as Audiomack, Boomplay, Spotify, and Apple Music—a move Alabaster Box described as an inadequate and disrespectful “admission of guilt.”
Faced with difficulties serving Medikal through conventional methods, the group petitioned the court for substituted service.
Justice John Bosco Nabarese, presiding, approved the motion on June 12, 2025, authorizing the plaintiffs to serve Medikal through alternative, modern channels.
These include:
Posting notices on the Accra High Court’s public notice board,
Sending direct messages to Medikal’s verified accounts on Facebook (Medikal), Instagram (@amgmedikal), and X (@AmgMedikal),
As well as via WhatsApp to his manager, Kofi Jam.
These substituted notices are to remain active for 21 days.
See the documents below:
ID/KA
