God Punish Dampare — Shatta Wale Reveals How Ankaful Prison Still Haunts His Visa Applications

Ghanaian dancehall artiste Shatta Wale has expressed frustration over the lasting impact of his time at Ankaful Prison, claiming that the experience continues to affect him whenever he seeks to travel abroad.

The musician, known privately as Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., reportedly lamented that his encounter with the criminal justice system has left him repeatedly having to explain his past whenever he applies for a visa to visit another country.

In reflecting on the experience, Shatta Wale directed strong words at the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, blaming him for the difficulties he says he continues to encounter as a result of his time behind bars.

“God punish IGP Dampare for putting jail in my life, to the extent that whenever I intend to travel, I always have to explain why I landed in jail,” the artiste said.

His remarks highlight the frustration he says he experiences when dealing with immigration and visa application procedures, where questions about previous encounters with the law can become an issue for applicants seeking permission to enter foreign countries.

For Shatta Wale, the experience appears to have extended beyond his period of detention, with the musician suggesting that the consequences continue to follow him even when he attempts to pursue international travel.

The dancehall star’s comments have also brought renewed attention to the wider implications of having a criminal justice history, particularly for public figures whose movements and professional engagements may extend beyond Ghana’s borders.

International travel requirements vary from country to country, and visa applicants may be asked to disclose certain criminal or legal histories depending on the destination, the type of visa being sought and the applicable immigration regulations.

Such requirements can create additional hurdles for applicants who must provide explanations or documentation concerning previous legal encounters.

Shatta Wale’s complaint underscores how experiences involving law enforcement can, in his view, have consequences that persist long after the immediate incident has ended.

However, his remarks should be understood as his personal account of the difficulties he says he faces. His comments alone do not establish that the IGP personally caused any subsequent visa complications.

The musician has remained one of Ghana’s most prominent entertainment personalities, with a career that includes music releases, performances and other professional engagements that may require international movement.

His latest comments have placed his past detention back in the spotlight, shifting attention from the immediate circumstances of his imprisonment to what he describes as its continuing effect on his personal and professional life.

For the artiste, the central concern appears to be the repeated need to explain his past whenever he seeks to travel, an experience he says has become an unwelcome consequence of his time in custody.

Abaah Clement feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com