GH¢5m Bond, 2 sureties – Fans besiege EOCO precincts

The revision of bail conditions, coupled with the sheer force of youth support, secured the release of Dancehall artiste Charles Nii Armah Mensah, known in showbiz circles as Shatta Wale, from the detention of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

This was moments after scores of fans besieged the precincts of the anti-graft agency, demanding the release of the Dancehall artiste who spent a night in the detention of EOCO in Accra after he was invited there last Wednesday to assist with investigations regarding a Lamborghini Urus he had purchased.

The vehicle has been found to be part of the proceeds of a $4 million crime, for which one Nana Kwabena Amuah is serving a jail term in the USA.

EOCO granted Shatta Wale bail in the sum of GH¢10 million last Wednesday, with two sureties to be justified.

Per the bail conditions, Shatta Wale must present sureties who possess properties commensurate with the bail amount.

For the better part of yesterday, the popular musician could not meet the bail conditions and remained in the custody of the anti-graft agency until later in the evening when he was released on enquiry bail after his counsel prayed EOCO to vary the bail conditions.

Revised bail conditions

Counsel for the musician, Cephas Boyuo, told the Daily Graphic following his client’s release that Shatta Wale was released after a prayer for EOCO to vary the GH¢10 million bail.

Consequently, the investigative body reduced the initial bail bond from GH¢10 million, with two sureties to be justified to GH¢5 million with two sureties and no justification.

He said his client was expected to report to EOCO three times every week until investigations into the case had been completed.

In a live broadcast on TikTok, Shatta Wale expressed gratitude to the leadership of EOCO for the reception accorded him during the investigations.

He also thanked his fans for showing up to support him.

“The King is home and safe, and thanks to everyone for being around me in times like this, because I needed you guys the most, because you guys are the ones that hold me down,” he said in a sombre mood.

“You guys at EOCO have been wonderful. I came there, and you took me through the rightful processes that were needed.

I want to say God bless you and your family. Raymond Archer, I thank you so much for your understanding,” he stated in the video.

Fans

Earlier, scores of fans, some riding motorbikes, blocked the Independence Link, the main road leading to the EOCO office, causing significant traffic congestion, with some threatening to use their teeth to tear the EOCO walls and cells open if Shatta Wale was not released.

Scores of Shatta Wale fans at the EOCO head office. Pictures: CALEB VANDERPUYE

Many fans held placards with inscriptions such as “Free – 1 Don”, “Leave the youth alone” and “Free Shatta Wale.”

Others waved red flags, chanting and playing the musician’s songs from loudspeakers mounted on stationary mini trucks they had brought along.

This prompted the police to manage vehicular movements, directing those coming from Prof. Atta Mills High Street via Independence Link to use Nii Kwei Boadu Road, located behind the National Lotteries Authority, before rejoining the main street.

Visibly exhausted, some supporters sat on the walls of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), an adjoining agency, which shares a wall with EOCO, where some high-profile politicians, and now a musician, have spent nights because they could not meet their bail conditions, often considered by their counsels as hefty.

EOCO explains

A statement issued by EOCO indicated that the investigation was part of a larger one being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States of America (USA) to unravel and recover proceeds of the said $4 million crime to be used as restitution.

“Following a request from the FBI and the US Justice Department for EOCO to track the vehicle and conduct local investigations in respect of uncovering possible co-conspirators in Ghana, EOCO began looking for the vehicle until it was identified and seized in or around May this year in the possession of one Charles Nii Armah Mensah,” the statement said.

‘Street’ purchase

EOCO explained that Shatta Wale arrived at its offices at 3 p.m. but was interrogated from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. His lawyer got to the premises later, and the musician had insisted that he would not cooperate until his lawyer arrived.

According to EOCO, during the investigations, Shatta Wale was unable to identify where or from whom he purchased the vehicle, with a claim that he bought it from the “streets”.

“So far, Charles Nii Armah Mensah has been unable to identify the person from whom he purchased the said Lamborghini Urus vehicle except to say that he purchased it from the “Street” and from someone possibly called “ZAK” who may have contacted him on WhatsApp, but whose identity he does not know and whose contact he has thrown away,” the statement added.

EOCO further disclosed that so far, Shatta Wale had not shown any documentation which made him the owner or purchaser of the said vehicle, except a customs declaration document bearing the name of Nana Kwabena Amuah, the convict and protagonist in the crime in the USA.

Fans troop to EOCO

While some of the supporters called the arrest a witch-hunt, others called on EOCO to temper justice with mercy and free the self-acclaimed “dancehall king”.

A supporter who gave his name as “senior militant” said Shatta Wale had been targeted because of the support he commanded among the downtrodden youth in society.

Another supporter described the bail condition as excessive and called on EOCO to vary it.

“We all know that Shatta Wale is a global icon. He is not running anywhere, so why impose such a harsh bail condition?” he said.

A fan who gave his name as Wisdom Blewoo stated that his idol was a victim of circumstance and called for his release.

“We all know that Shatta Wale is a global icon. He is not running anywhere, so why impose such a harsh bail condition?” he said.

A fan who gave his name as Wisdom Blewoo stated that his idol was a victim of circumstance and called for his release.

“We are not here to joke. We will use our teeth to chew the EOCO walls if he is not released,” he told journalists and police officers stationed at the EOCO headquarters.

An Okada rider, Gabriel Sackey, one of the fans, stated that he would sit on the floor until Shatta Wale was freed.

“We voted for the President to arrest public officials who have stolen Ghana’s money, not street hustlers like Shatta Wale. It seems he’s a third party; he only bought the car without knowing its history. Let’s temper justice with mercy,” he added.

Ghanaian musician, songwriter, and record label owner, Ricky Nana Agyemang, known as Bullet, who was spotted at the precincts of EOCO, described the arrest as a witch-hunt, claiming the system was designed to keep musicians in poverty.

“The system has been set up to suppress us because they can’t understand how a musician can buy a house in Trassaco, own a ride-hailing company, and build houses for sale,” he said.

Career

Shatta Wale, born Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr on October 17, 1984, in Accra, has had a dynamic music career. He started as “Doggy” before rebranding as “Bandana” and releasing “Bandana from Ghana” in 2004.

After a brief hiatus, he resurfaced as “Shatta Wale” in 2013 and rose to fame with his dancehall style.

His breakthrough song “Dancehall King” earned him Artiste of the Year at the 2014 Ghana Music Awards and solidified his dominance in the dancehall scene.

Subsequent hits such as “Enter the Net,” “Kakai,” “Ayoo,” “My Level,” and “Gringo” cemented his status as the “Dancehall King.”

Shatta Wale’s music blends Jamaican dancehall, reggae, Afrobeat, and Highlife with Ghanaian rhythms.

His electrifying stage presence, charisma, and captivating dance moves have earned him a massive following, particularly among younger audiences. This connection birthed the

“Shatta Movement,” a loyal fanbase that supports his music and ventures.

His social media dominance has amplified his reach, making him the country’s most influential musician online.

The Shatta Movement on Facebook commands about 1.5 million followers, Charles Nii Armah Mensah on Facebook has almost a million followers and his X with 3.7 million followers.

Notable albums include “After the Storm” (2016), “Reign” (2018), “Wonder Boy” (2019), and “Gift of God” (2022).

He has collaborated with global artists such as Vybz Kartel, Alkaline, and Beyoncé.

Shatta Wale has won numerous awards, including multiple categories at the 3Music Awards and three awards at the IRAWMA in 2025.

Beyond music, Shatta Wale is a successful entrepreneur with ventures such as Shaxi ride-hailing, Shatta Movement record label, and fashion lines.

He is also a brand ambassador for Guinness, Infinix, and Storm Energy.