The 46-year-old pastor who was arrested for allegedly prophesying that musician Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jnr, popularly known Shatta Wale, would be assassinated by a group of men has been charged with publication of false news.
According to the prosecution, the musician and his management team have been traumatised and living in fear since the video went viral on TikTok.
Rev. Daniel Yaw Donkoh, who appeared before the Dansoman Circuit Court on July 28, was charged with one count of publication of false news.
He has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Bail application
Making an oral bail application, counsel for the accused, Ebenezer Elorm Segbefia, said his client was innocent until proven guilty.
“The charges in the facts that have been read here are mere allegations which the prosecution has the burden of proving beyond reasonable doubt,” he told the court.
The accused, he said, was not known to the law and had a fixed place of abode.
He added that Rev. Donkoh, who is the breadwinner of his family, had cooperated with the police through the entire stage of the investigation and hence would not interfere with investigations when granted bail.
“My client has men of substance who are ready to stand surety for him when granted bail. It is our humble prayer that the terms of conditions for bail should be flexible to enable him to meet it,” counsel said.
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Kwadwo Aboagye, did not oppose the bail application.
Rev. Donkoh was subsequently admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢20,000, with three sureties, one to be justified.
He is to report to the police once every two weeks.
The case has been adjourned to August 27, 2025.
Prosecution’s facts
Narrating the facts of the case, C/Insp. Aboagye told the court that Shatta Wale himself reported the matter to the police.
He said on July 21, 2025, Shatta Wale, through his Public Relations Manager, reported that on Sunday, July 20, 2025, the complainant and his management chanced on a video of Rev. Daniel Yaw Donkoh posted on his Tik-Tok page, indicating that he saw a vision of Shatta Wale being assassinated by a group of armed men.
“The complaint has it that, the complainant, ever since the circulation of the said video by accused, has been traumatised and living in fear as he does not know what is in store for him and his management,” the prosecutor said.
Upon receipt of the complaint, the prosecutor said several phone calls were placed to the accused person’s phone in an attempt to invite him to assist investigation but he could not respond.
On July 25, 2025 C/Insp. Aboagye said the police received intelligence that some fans of the complainant who had sighted the video on various social media platforms were planning to besiege the church of the accused in order to register their displeasure about Rev. Donkoh’s conduct.
In view of this, the prosecutor said the police proceeded to the location and invited the accused to assist with investigation to curb untoward attacks.
“During investigation, Rev. Donkoh indicated that he posted the video on his TikTok page regarding the assassination of Shatta Wale to get his attention,” the prosecutor stated.
