Dancehall musician Charles Nii Armah Mensah, popularly known as Shatta Wale, has been released from the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
The news of his release was confirmed by his manager, Sammy Flex, who took to Facebook with a message of gratitude. He wrote: “To God be the glory, great things He has done.”
Shatta Wale was detained on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, after being invited by EOCO to assist with investigations into a 2019 Lamborghini Urus in his possession.
The luxury vehicle was flagged by the FBI and the US Justice Department as part of the proceeds from a $4 million fraud case involving a Ghanaian man, Nana Kwabena Amuah, who is currently serving a prison term in the United States.
Following interrogation, the musician was granted bail of GH₵10 million with two sureties. His lawyer, Cephas Boyuo, confirmed that the initial bail amount of GH₵10 million was reduced to GH₵5 million, requiring two sureties. “As part of the bail conditions, he is to report to EOCO three times a week,” Mr. Boyuo added.
The case has drawn wide public attention over the past days, with scores of fans gathering outside EOCO’s offices in Accra to demand his freedom. Several celebrities, including songstress Sista Afia, also publicly appealed for his release, describing him as the “Dancehall King.”
EOCO has explained that the investigation forms part of a broader collaboration with US authorities to trace proceeds of crime and uncover possible co-conspirators.
Shatta Wale, however, has insisted that he purchased the vehicle for $150,000 but has been unable to provide full documentation beyond a customs declaration bearing the name of Amuah.
For now, the award-winning artist is back home, and his release has been met with excitement among fans and supporters who had been actively campaigning for his freedom.
Bullet Calls Shatta Wale’s Arrest a Witch Hunt
Artist manager and musician, Bullet defended Shatta Wale, following the latter’s arrest by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) on Wednesday, August 20, saying the arrest was nothing but a witch hunt, designed to suppress the creative industry.
“I think it is more of witch hunting,” Bullet stated. “There is more to it than people might not even understand. The system has been designed for musicians and celebrities to be poor, so that they can suppress us.”
Bullet believes that the system is unhappy with the success of musicians like Shatta Wale, who have been able to break the mold and achieve financial success.
“They don’t understand that a musician has been able to make so much money. They don’t understand that a musician has been able to buy a house in Trassaco, own a Shaxi company, own estates, and do oil business. So the system will hold you back and tell you that you can never make it or shouldn’t make it. Nobody should be happy that Shatta Wale has been arrested.”
Bullet
The rapper also credited Shatta Wale for changing the game for musicians in Ghana, allowing them to charge higher fees for their performances.
“Back in the day, even when we were A-list artists, the highest we received was 3,000 cedis. Shatta Wale came into the industry and changed everything. Now, artists can charge GH¢200,000, GH¢300,000 for a show. Shatta Wale came into the industry and started taking $100,000, $150,000 for a show, so he changed something.
“He showed the way that musicians, too, can make money. So the arrest is deeper than you guys could think. Before, musicians couldn’t even afford a BMW, but now boys are building mansions, boys are buying Range Rovers, Rolls-Royce. Boys are making money and owning estates, so the system is not happy; they want us to be poor.”
Bullet
Bullet stated this when he joined several Shatta Wale’s fans who had gathered at the offices of EOCO in Accra on Thursday, demanding the release of their music icon.
