Ghanaian dancehall star Shatta Wale has revealed that the recent controversy involving the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has negatively affected his reputation and cost him several business opportunities.
Speaking during an interview on Ekosiisen on Asempa FM on Wednesday, the musician expressed disappointment about how the matter was handled, stating that the situation has damaged his brand both in Ghana and internationally.
According to the artiste, the controversy created a public perception that has harmed his image despite his insistence that he had no involvement in any wrongdoing.
“I feel sad about the whole situation because the system has not really protected me as a citizen. To me, it feels like a kind of game being played, or perhaps I am being targeted for something,” he said during the interview.
Shatta Wale explained that the issue began when officials from EOCO visited his residence following allegations that former National Signals Bureau Director-General Kwabena Adu-Boahene had allegedly given him vehicles that authorities wanted to investigate.
According to the musician, the officials informed him that they were searching for certain vehicles believed to be linked to the investigation.
“When the issue first came up, it was about Adu-Boahene, who is a state official, and I know EOCO usually deals with matters involving the state,” he explained.
“They came to my house saying Adu-Boahene had cars with me and that they wanted to inspect them. But when they arrived, there were no such vehicles there. The only car at the house was my Lamborghini.”
The dancehall star insisted that he had no direct dealings with the former state official and questioned why the issue was not handled privately.
He stated that if the authorities had approached him discreetly, he would have willingly cooperated with the investigation.
“Shatta is a very loyal and patriotic citizen. If someone had come to me privately and explained that a car was being investigated overseas, I would have gladly signed the necessary documents for it to be returned,” he said.
Shatta Wale believes the public nature of the investigation created the impression that he had knowingly purchased a stolen vehicle, an allegation he strongly denies.
“Now everyone thinks I bought a stolen car. Meanwhile, I arrived here driving my Lamborghini openly. If the car were stolen, why would I be driving it around freely?” he questioned.
The musician also revealed that he personally appealed to the leadership of EOCO to handle the situation quietly in order to protect his reputation.
According to him, he even knelt before the head of the organisation to plead that the matter should not be made public.
“Out of respect for the EOCO boss, when I met him I even knelt down and pleaded that whatever action they intended to take should not be made public,” he said.
Shatta Wale is now calling on the leadership of EOCO to issue an apology, arguing that the controversy has seriously damaged his public image.
“I want to state clearly that the EOCO boss needs to apologise to my brand, not to me personally as Shatta Wale, because what happened has seriously tarnished my image in Ghana and even abroad,” he stated.
He further expressed concern about suggestions that the vehicle in question could be linked to criminal proceeds.
“The simplest thing they could have said was, ‘Shatta, come and take your car,’ but instead I started hearing claims that the vehicle was proceeds of crime. I kept asking myself where such a story came from,” he added.
According to the musician, the experience has left him deeply unsettled and concerned about the damage the controversy has caused to his career and business reputation.
