Ghana’s Entertainment Industry Loses Spark as FBI Nabs High-Profile Scammers

MBak De General, a renowned radio presenter and host of Entertainment Xpress on Nkwa FM, has expressed concerns that Ghana’s entertainment industry is losing its spark due to excessive showmanship. He believes the industry has shifted focus from genuine talent to glamour, with artists competing over material possessions like cars and mansions rather than musical prowess.

This observation comes on the heels of recent FBI arrests in Ghana, targeting individuals involved in romance scams and wire fraud. Notably, Isaac Kofi Oduro Boateng, popularly known as Kofi Boat, a close associate of Ghanaian musician Shatta Wale, was arrested by the FBI in connection with a $100 million fraud scheme. Kofi Boat and his team face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.

Another Ghanaian, Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng, widely known as Dada Joe Remix, was also arrested in a covert FBI-led operation on May 28, 2025. He faces extradition to the United States, where he’ll stand trial for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. According to the US Department of Justice, Dada Joe Remix allegedly participated in a decade-long transnational fraud scheme, laundering stolen funds and distributing them to co-conspirators in Ghana and other countries.

The alleged fraud scheme involving Dada Joe Remix and others includes romance scams targeting elderly Americans between 2013 and 2023. Other suspects named in the indictment include Otuo Amponsah, Anna Amponsah, Hannah Adom, Portia Joe, Abdoul Issaka Assimiou, and Dwayne Asafo Adjei. These individuals face charges tied to romance scams that tricked seniors into sending large sums of money under false pretenses.

MBak De General advises Ghanaian musicians and wealthy individuals to stop flaunting their wealth and instead contribute to national development, believing this would help the industry regain its spark and focus on nurturing genuine talent.