Foster Sakyiamah, an Accra-based artist, has filed a lawsuit against prominent curator Joseph Awuah-Darko aka Okuntakinte, claiming non-payment of $266,527 for several artworks.

The lawsuit, lodged in an Accra court on June 24, alleges that Awuah-Darko failed to compensate Sakyiamah as agreed.

Sakyiamah stated that Awuah-Darko discovered his work on Instagram in the summer of 2021 and offered to represent him through his company, JAD Advisory Limited. An agreement was signed in 2021, appointing Awuah-Darko as Sakyiamah’s agent for 36 months, tasked with promoting, exhibiting, and selling his artwork.

As part of the deal, Sakyiamah joined the Noldor Artist Residency in Accra, launched by Awuah-Darko in November 2020. He was paid an initial $3,000 and provided with studio space to create 21 works for the residency. However, Sakyiamah claims he was subsequently required to produce additional works without appropriate compensation.

At the end of the 36-month term in March 2023, Awuah-Darko sent Sakyiamah an artist statement indicating that $338,886.98 had been paid to him through 17 cash deposits and bank transfers. The statement also noted a "net revenue share payable" of $266,527.03. Sakyiamah claims he stopped providing artwork upon realising Awuah-Darko was withholding over $200,000.