“The audacity!” – Nana Akua Addo fires back at design theft claims

Ghanaian fashion star Nana Akua Addo has fiercely responded to allegations of design theft after her dramatic appearance at the 2026 Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards sparked massive attention across social media. The actress and style influencer became one of the most talked-about personalities at the glamorous Nigerian event after rocking a breathtaking cathedral-inspired outfit that many fans described as one of the best fashion moments of the night.

However, the celebration quickly turned into controversy after international fashion brand Almée Couture publicly accused Nana Akua Addo of using a design concept allegedly created by the brand without authorization. In a statement shared online, the couture house claimed the Ghanaian star initially approached them with inspiration linked to Germany’s famous Cologne Cathedral before later withdrawing from the project.

According to the fashion label, although Nana Akua Addo introduced the initial inspiration, the company said it was fully responsible for developing the final creative direction, including the sketches, structure, silhouette, and couture detailing of the outfit. The brand further alleged that after discussions ended and a refund was issued, there was a mutual understanding that the completed concept and artistic interpretation would remain the intellectual property of Almée Couture.

The accusations immediately triggered heated debates online, with fashion enthusiasts and social media users divided over the ownership of the creative concept behind the now-viral AMVCA look. While some defended the fashion house’s claims, others argued that inspiration and mood boards shared by clients could not automatically become the sole property of designers.

Reacting strongly to the allegations, Nana Akua Addo took to Instagram to reject the claims and insist that the original vision behind the outfit came directly from her. The style icon maintained that she personally conceptualized the cathedral-inspired look and only reached out to the designer to help execute her vision. According to her, the brand declined to proceed because of the complexity of the idea before refunding her payment.

In a passionate response shared with screenshots of alleged private conversations, Nana Akua Addo questioned why the fashion house was now attempting to take ownership of an idea she says belonged to her from the beginning. “I shared my idea with you and explained exactly how I wanted it,” she wrote, adding, “THE AUDACITY!!!!! THIS WAS MY MOODBOARD, architecture, structure!!!!” Her response has since intensified the conversation online, with many eagerly waiting to see whether the controversy will escalate further within the fashion industry.

Writer : Promise