Shatta Wale Blasts Former IGP Dampare Over 2021 Jail Sentence, Says It Has Damaged His Career

According to a report by Ghbase News on Saturday October 24, 2026, Ghanaian dancehall star Shatta Wale has expressed anger over his arrest and subsequent imprisonment in 2021, blaming former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Dr George Akuffo Dampare for what he describes as a lasting dent on his life and career.

The musician, known for his outspoken nature and frequent public controversies, has revealed that the consequences of the incident continue to affect him whenever he travels outside Ghana.

According to him, the criminal justice process he went through has left him with questions to answer whenever he is required to disclose whether he has ever been imprisoned.

Shatta Wale made the comments during a TikTok live session, where he appeared visibly upset as he recounted the circumstances surrounding his arrest and one-week imprisonment at the Ankaful Medium Security Prison in 2021.

The incident followed a controversial episode in which the musician staged a fake gunshot incident amid concerns over death prophecies made against him by some prophets. He later turned himself in to the police, but the matter resulted in his arrest and prosecution.

Shatta Wale has maintained that his actions at the time were connected to his concerns about repeated death prophecies and his desire to draw attention to the issue. However, the legal consequences of the incident, he says, have continued to follow him years after the case.

During his TikTok live broadcast, the dancehall artiste directed his frustration at Dampare, who was serving as IGP at the time of the incident.

He argued that the decision to charge him and the resulting jail sentence had created a lasting problem for him, particularly when dealing with travel documentation and questions about his criminal history.

According to Shatta Wale, whenever he travels abroad and encounters forms or questions requiring him to disclose whether he has ever been to jail, he is compelled to answer in the affirmative because of the 2021 case.

He explained that the situation often requires him to provide further explanations about why he was imprisoned, a process he believes has unfairly affected his public image and professional life.

The musician questioned why he should continue to face such consequences when, according to his account, the incident did not involve theft or robbery.

“Dampare come put jail for my life. If I dey travel, and they ask me, have you ever been to jail and I have to say yes they will ask me, why did you go to jail.

Ah I didn’t steal, I didn’t ‘keel’, Anor go rob. Herh but God go pun+sh that man. What kind of dent, have you placed on me,” Shatta Wale is heard saying in the video.

His remarks reflect his continuing dissatisfaction with the handling of the 2021 incident and his belief that the outcome has had consequences beyond the period he spent in custody.

Shatta Wale’s comments also bring renewed attention to the controversy surrounding his staged gunshot report, which generated widespread public discussion and prompted a police investigation at the time.

The incident occurred during a period when the musician had expressed concerns about death prophecies circulating about him. His decision to turn himself in did not prevent legal action, and he subsequently spent one week in prison.

Years later, the award-winning artiste says the experience remains a source of frustration, particularly because he believes it has placed an enduring mark on his record and created complications during international travel.

Although Shatta Wale has openly criticised Dampare over the matter, his latest comments represent his personal account of the impact of the case.

His claims about the effect on his career and international travel have not, in the comments provided, been independently established.

The outburst has nevertheless reignited discussion about the 2021 controversy, the police response to the incident and the long-term implications of criminal proceedings for public figures.

For Shatta Wale, the issue appears far from settled, as he continues to question the decisions that led to his imprisonment and the consequences he says he must still confront whenever he travels abroad.

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