Popular Ghanaian dancehall star Shatta Wale has been detained in a tax investigation surrounding his recent purchase of a luxury car.
The musician’s yellow Lamborghini, worth about $150,000, was seized earlier this month at the request of US authorities, who allege it was tied to the proceeds of an international fraud scheme.
The case is linked to another Ghanaian, Nana Kwabena Amuah, who is currently serving a seven-year jail term in the US for defrauding nearly 70 organisations.
In a statement posted on social media, Wale’s management confirmed that he “presented himself voluntarily” to Ghana’s Economic and Organised Crime Office (Eoco) on Wednesday. They did not address the US allegations, instead saying the detention was connected to “tax obligations.”
Wale, real name Charles Nii Armah, has denied knowing Amuah or having any connection to the network. He maintains that he is only a third-party owner of the Lamborghini and does not know who shipped it into Ghana.
Eoco says the vehicle will be returned to the US to help compensate Amuah’s victims.
Shatta Wale is one of Ghana’s most successful music stars, famous for his dancehall hits and his 2019 collaboration with Beyoncé on the song Already.
Meanwhile, his management has called on fans to remain calm, assuring them that his legal team is actively working with authorities to resolve the matter.
The seizure of Wale’s car comes as Ghana intensifies cooperation with the US in cracking down on international fraud networks. Just this month, the FBI and US Justice Department extradited three Ghanaians accused of running a $100m fraud scheme involving romance scams and phishing attacks.
