Ghanaian rapper Medikal is under legal fire as an Accra High Court has granted gospel group Alabaster Box permission to serve him with legal documents via digital platforms. The court’s approval of substituted service comes after repeated failed attempts to deliver a writ of summons in person.
At the heart of the dispute is Medikal’s track “Welcome to Africa”, which Alabaster Box claims unlawfully samples their iconic song “Akwaaba.” The group is seeking a total of GH₵15 million in damages, GH₵10 million for copyright infringement and GH₵5 million in exemplary damages, arguing that Medikal’s song features “expressive profanity, vulgarity and unprintable words” that have tarnished their legacy.
The June 12, 2025 court order outlines the following channels for serving Medikal:
i) By pasting a copy of the Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim on the High Court Notice Board, Law Court Complex in Accra.
ii) By serving copies of the Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim on Defendant through his verified social media handles on Facebook, Instagram and X namely; Medikal, amgmedikal and Medikalbyk respectively.
iii) By serving a copy through the defendant’s Manager, Kofi Jam on his registered WhatsApp number.
Alabaster Box claims the first 10 seconds of “Welcome to Africa” constitute a derivative of “Akwaaba” and allege that the unauthorised use, combined with the explicit nature of Medikal’s lyrics, has severely damaged the reputation of their brand.
The gospel ensemble, which has performed globally—including at Westminster Abbey for the late Queen Elizabeth—emphasizes its ownership of “Akwaaba” in both Ghana and the UK. They insist that years of investment in their musical legacy have been jeopardized by this alleged infringement.
In addition to monetary damages, the group wants the court to order Medikal to disclose all earnings related to the song and to have it removed from all digital streaming platforms.
