By: Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
The arrest of Dancehall artiste Shatta Wale by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has reignited discussions about how Ghana’s music industry and its stars are treated by state institutions.
Shatta Wale is being detained over investigations into the tax obligations of his yellow Lamborghini Urus, but his supporters say the case goes beyond tax.
At EOCO’s head office, where fans gathered in protest, RuffTown Records CEO Ricky Nana Agyemang also known as Bullet claimed that the system is designed to frustrate artistes who attain wealth and influence.
“The arrest of Shatta is more of witch-hunting. The system has been designed for musicians and celebrities to be poor so that they can be suppressed,” he said.
Industry observers note that Shatta Wale’s arrest reflects long-standing concerns in the entertainment sector; limited state support, scrutiny of artistes’ lifestyles and public perceptions about how musicians earn their money.
Bullet credited to Shatta Wale with transforming the music scene saying that performance fees have risen from as low as GHC3,000 to over $100,000 today due to his boldness and influence.
Fans outside EOCO insisted that Shatta Wale’s contributions to Ghanaian music deserve recognition, not intimidation.
“He put Ghana music on the map. If there’s an issue, let’s solve it fairly, not by embarrassing him,” one supporter said.
The case continues to generate heated debate, with some calling for fair investigations, while others believe the arrest shows no one is above the law.
