BY GRACE ZIGAH
Ghanaian actor and filmmaker Joseph Van Vicker has sued fellow entertainer Kwadwo Nkansah, popularly known as Lil Win, at the High Court in Accra, seeking GH¢10 million in damages over statements he claims have damaged his professional reputation.
The lawsuit stems from a Facebook video published under the headline “LIL WIN BANS VAN VICKER FROM ACTING IN KUMASI!”, which Van Vicker alleges contained defamatory statements about his character, professional conduct and involvement in the film industry.
Court documents indicate that the suit was filed on October 10, 2026, at the General Jurisdiction Division of the High Court in Accra.
Van Vicker is asking the court to declare the statements libellous and defamatory, award him general damages and order Lil Win to pay the legal costs associated with the proceedings.
He is also seeking an order compelling the actor to publish a retraction and apology on news portals for four consecutive weeks, with the same prominence as the original publications.
According to Van Vicker’s statement of claim, the legal action follows the publication of a Facebook video in which Lil Win allegedly made several statements concerning him.
The video was reportedly recorded in Twi, with its contents subsequently transcribed and translated in the court documents.
Van Vicker alleges that Lil Win accused him of lying about the actor, failing to honour an agreed professional commitment and ignoring five telephone calls.
The plaintiff argues that the statements, considered in their natural and ordinary meaning, portrayed him as dishonest, disrespectful and unreliable in his professional dealings.
He further contends that the video’s headline suggested he had been banned from acting in Kumawood, the film industry associated with Kumasi and Twi-language productions.
Van Vicker disputes the allegations and maintains that the statements misrepresent his character and professional standing.
In his statement of claim, he describes himself as an upright film producer and director, arguing that the publication has exposed him to reputational harm.
However, the allegations contained in the court documents have not been established by a judicial ruling. The lawsuit represents Van Vicker’s claims, and Lil Win has the opportunity to respond through the legal process.
The film Journey to Africa features prominently in the dispute outlined in the court documents.
Van Vicker alleges that Lil Win discussed the production in the video and suggested that his continued participation would depend on him showing remorse.
The plaintiff argues that the comments went beyond a disagreement over a professional engagement and created an impression that he was untrustworthy and had been barred from working in Kumasi’s film industry.
He further alleges that the publication was presented sensationally to attract views and generate publicity for Lil Win’s film project.
These assertions form part of Van Vicker’s case and remain to be tested through the proceedings.
The dispute raises questions about how disagreements between entertainers over film projects and professional commitments can spill into the public domain and potentially develop into legal battles over reputation.
Beyond disputing the alleged statements, Van Vicker accuses Lil Win of publishing them maliciously and knowing that the claims were false. According to the statement of claim, he contends that the video has caused him considerable distress and affected his sense of personal security.
He claims to have been living in what the court documents describe as “constant fear and anxiety” following the publication. The actor also alleges that he cancelled planned business trips to Kumasi because he feared possible attacks, citing Lil Win’s substantial following in the city.
These claims form part of the damages case he is advancing against his colleague.Van Vicker further argues that the allegedly defamatory material remains accessible online and continues to appear when his name is searched on the internet.
The continued availability of the content is central to his request for a retraction, an apology and an order preventing the repetition of the disputed statements.
The court has not yet ruled on these allegations, and the extent of any reputational or financial damage remains to be determined.
Van Vicker’s legal demands extend beyond financial compensation. He wants the court to order Lil Win to retract the allegedly defamatory statements and issue a public apology on news portals for four consecutive weeks.
He is also seeking an injunction to prevent the actor from repeating the statements in question.
The requested remedies are intended to address both the alleged damage already caused and the possibility of further publication.
However, the GH¢10 million figure represents the amount Van Vicker is seeking, not a sum that has been awarded by the court.
