Charles Nii Armah Mensah, the Ghanaian dancehall artist known professionally as Shatta Wale, was released from custody on Thursday after meeting revised bail conditions in a high-profile investigation led by Ghana’s Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
The bail, initially set at GH₵10 million (approximately $850,000), was reduced to GH₵5 million with two sureties, according to the artiste’s legal counsel, Cephas Boyuo. As part of the new terms, Mr. Mensah is required to report to EOCO three times per week, Mr. Boyuo told Citi News.
The release follows several days of legal proceedings linked to EOCO’s investigation into the acquisition of a Lamborghini Urus—a high-performance luxury SUV valued at more than $200,000. EOCO alleges that the artist failed to demonstrate legal ownership of the vehicle.
In a statement issued Thursday, EOCO said that Mr. Mensah was unable to provide verifiable documentation of purchase or transfer. The only record in his possession was a customs declaration bearing the name Nana Kwabena Amuah, an individual currently serving a prison sentence.
Mr. Mensah reportedly claimed the vehicle was purchased informally “from the Street,” facilitated via WhatsApp through an individual known only as “ZAK”—a person he could neither fully identify nor locate. No sales invoice, vehicle registration, or proof of transaction was provided to investigators.
Shatta Wale's media manager, Samuel Atuobi Baah, known publicly as Sammy Flex, confirmed via video statement that the artist’s legal team had been “working around the clock” to meet the bail requirements. Fans of the musician gathered outside EOCO headquarters in Accra throughout the day, demanding his release.
“We are coordinating closely with legal representatives, and all efforts are being made,” Mr. Baah said earlier Thursday.
The investigation underscores rising scrutiny by Ghanaian authorities into high-value asset acquisitions by public figures, as regulators push for greater transparency in transactions potentially tied to illicit finance.
EOCO’s probe remains ongoing.
