Ghanaian musician Shatta Wale has been detained as part of an investigation regarding the purchase of a luxury vehicle, according to local authorities. His yellow Lamborghini, which was seized earlier this month, is reportedly linked to allegations from the U.S. claiming it is connected to proceeds from a criminal enterprise.
The Ghanaian Economic and Organised Crime Office (Eoco) stated that Wale voluntarily entered custody for questioning about the vehicle. In their response, Wale’s management did not address the U.S. allegations directly, instead noting that his detention was related to “tax obligations.” The Lamborghini Urus, valued at approximately $150,000, was identified by U.S. authorities as being associated with a Ghanaian named Nana Kwabena Amuah, currently serving a seven-year sentence in the U.S. for fraud.
Wale has denied any connection to Amuah, claiming he is merely a “third-party owner” of the vehicle and was unaware of who imported it into Ghana. He remains a prominent figure in the Ghanaian music scene, known for his work in dancehall and his collaboration with Beyoncé on the song “Already” in 2019.
Following questioning, Wale was granted bail set at 10 million Ghanaian cedis but will stay in custody until the verification of bail conditions is completed. A small group of his supporters gathered outside Eoco’s offices in Accra to express solidarity with him during this time. Eoco has indicated that the Lamborghini would be sent back to the U.S. to assist in restitution efforts for Amuah’s victims, who were defrauded through a scheme involving impersonation of legitimate vendors.
This incident is part of broader efforts in Ghana to combat an international fraud network in collaboration with U.S. authorities. Recently, the FBI and U.S. Justice Department extradited and arrested three individuals implicated in a $100 million fraud operation involving various scams. Wale’s management has urged fans to remain calm and avoid speculation while his legal team works with relevant authorities to resolve the situation.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq68j92yjd9o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss