Mentor Girl Sues TV3

After her astounding resignation from the Mentor II reality show on grounds of her civil rights being infringed upon, Rebecca Acheampong has vengefully bounced back with a lawsuit against Mentor organisers, TV3.

The 22-year-old child psychologist has been heard on some radio stations confirming her legal actions against TV3 though details have not yet been revealed.

Rebecca "quit" the Mentor show shortly after being selected to represent the Ashanti Region together with Rose (Tico) and Sandy (Obolo) following her strong objections to an allegation that the finalists, including her, had been secretly tested and cleared of HIV/AIDS without any counselling or prior notification.

She threatened to contact her lawyers to fight the alleged violation of her privacy in court, and carried through the threat this week when the suit was served on both TV3 and the Holy Trinity Medical Centre, where the tests were done, to appear in court.

According to the Public Relations Manager of TV3, Mrs Janet Carboo-Danquah, they have referred the writ to their lawyers and awaiting the outcome.

"We cannot say anything for now until the matter has been settled in court. We are waiting to see how things would turn out. If we have to appear in court, then so be it." she said.

It would be recalled that the October 12 edition of the Graphic Showbiz carried a story of how Rebecca Acheampong announced her wish to drop out 24 hours before the official launch of Mentor II at the Coconut Grove Regency Hotel in Accra.

Organisers were shocked at the news because she had been part of the audition which began in Accra but failed to qualify to be among the final three which ended up with Prince, Vic and Anita.

Her strong desire to be in the house, however, made her follow the Mentor crew to Kumasi where the Ashanti Regional auditions were held and she was finally selected.

After the 12 finalists had been selected, gone on location to shoot music videos and had their wardrobe organised for entry into the house, organisers were set to publicly launch Mentor II only to be slapped with Rebecca?s decision to opt out.

They, however, had to quickly look for a replacement and that was where Cee (Slim Things), a stand-by, came in handy. That explained why Cee appeared in a costume different from the other 11 contestants during the launch which was carried live on TV3.

Frantic efforts by phone and other means, made by the event managers, to salvage the situation failed for, Rebecca raised serious objections to TV3?s proposed contract and was enraged by knowledge that all the Mentor contestants had been tested for and cleared of HIV/AIDS without any prior counselling.

The result notwithstanding, Rebecca felt offended claiming that her right to privacy had been violated since such a sensitive medical test was carried out without her consent.

But the real point of departure between Rebecca, who has an Afro-pop album soon to be released, and the Mentor organisers is the 12-page contract which would have tied her and her showbiz activities to TV3, the event managers.

According to Rebecca?s producer, Kiki Banson, when they sought to discuss the relevant clauses, a TV3 spokesman maintained that the contract was not for discussion, but a take-it or leave-it affair.

The contract empowers TV3 as the sole and exclusive manager of all the artistes and gives the station the exclusive right to extend the terms of the contract by giving the artiste a 30-day notice in writing.

Nothing precludes TV3 from further extending the extended term after its expiry. She also described as an infringement on her civil rights, clause 3.4.14 which states that without the prior authorisation of the station, the mentor artiste cannot take part in business, social or political activities that may divert her attention from or conflict with her obligations as provided in the agreement.