Akoto Nelson, 34, has been charged with possession of police accoutrements without lawful authority and falsely pretending to be a public officer.

He pleaded not guilty when the charges were read before the court, presided over by Mr Jojo Hagan, and was ordered to remain on his previous bail.

Checks by the Ghana News Agency indicate that Nelson had earlier been admitted to bail in the sum of GH₵50,000 with two sureties.

The prosecution said the complainant is a police officer stationed at the Formed Police Unit (FPU) of the Ghana Police Service.

On October 19, 2025, at about 1:00 a.m., a team from the FPU led by DSP Alexander Asamoah arrested Nelson at the Black Star Square during the “ShattaFest Concert.”

Nelson was found dressed in a police camouflage uniform, ranked himself as ASP, and presented himself as such to the public at the event.

During interrogation, Nelson failed to properly identify himself or provide lawful authority to wear the uniform.

A subsequent search of his residence led to the retrieval of a toy P99 pistol, pepper spray, two ZTE mini handsets, and one Xinte cutter knife. Also found were two complimentary cards bearing the names of ACP Christian Tetteh Yohuno (then Deputy Accra Regional Police Commander) and Chief Superintendent C.A. Wlemegah (Director of Transport).

Investigations revealed that Nelson had been in possession of the uniform since 2022 and had worn it to funerals and other public events to intimidate members of the public.

Further investigations are ongoing.

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According to Shatta Wale’s team, the visit was to personally thank Mrs. Ayoade and the Charterhouse team for their professional collaboration, logistical support, and overall contribution to the smooth execution of the event.

Mrs. Ayoade, in turn, congratulated Shatta Wale and his team for staging what has been widely described as one of the biggest open-air music events in Ghana’s recent history.

He was accompanied by colleague Medikal and his management team as a symbol of mutual respect between the award-winning musician and one of Ghana’s biggest event production houses.

Held at the Independence Square, Shattafest 2025 drew over 637,000 of fans from across Ghana and beyond, per the official statement from the team.

The concert celebrated Shatta Wale’s two-decade music journey and his unwavering connection with the Shatta Movement fanbase.

The visit to Charterhouse, therefore, served as a gesture of appreciation and reconciliation, further strengthening ties between Shatta Wale and the entertainment company.

The dancehall king expressed optimism about future collaborations that would continue to elevate Ghana’s music scene globally.

The artiste made the declaration during a courtesy visit to the head office of Mobile Money Limited (MoMo) in Accra, where he expressed heartfelt gratitude to the company for partnering and supporting his birthday concert, ‘ShattaFest’ 2025.

“ShattaFest is a brand that we’ve built, and I believe with a few collaborations like MTN from MoMo and other affiliations, we’re going to have it every year,” he said.

“We’re even thinking about taking it to other regions and even outside Ghana as well. This is a great initiative, and people should expect more.”

The meeting, which brought together members of the MoMo executive board and the award-winning artiste, reflected the strong partnership between the telecom brand and Shatta Wale’s team.

The 2025 edition of ShattaFest was powered by MoMo Fest (Mobile Money Ghana Limited), with support from Shaxi and Charterhouse.

Shatta Wale also commended Ghanaians and his fans for their massive turnout at the Black Star Square on October 18, describing it as proof that Ghana’s creative space can thrive with the right corporate backing.

“Thank you to MTN from MoMo, my Shatta Movement fans, and the whole of Ghana. I believe it wasn’t only my fans that came, but most Ghanaians also really supported for this thing to happen,” he said.

Reflecting on how to attract more corporate investment into the entertainment industry, Shatta Wale emphasised the importance of professionalism and consistency.

“I think it’s about discipline, hard work, and how we push the agenda of what we do. For me to have a brand like this come on board shows that the corporate world is ready to support people like us.”

Speaking during the meeting with board members of Mobile Money Limited, Shatta Wale said it had always been his dream to work with the company and described the partnership as “a blessing and a success.”

He described the collaboration as a dream come true, saying it marked an important milestone in his career.

“So when this MoMo stuff came up, I was like, I have this idea that I want to do, but I didn’t know which dates to. But when it got to my birthday season, I was like, let me just try, and lo and behold, your team said yes.

“God bless everyone here who accepted it, and it really became a success for me. I’m still shocked up to now.“

He expressed his gratitude to Mobile Money Limited for believing in his vision, adding that he is open to future collaborations that will continue to inspire and empower Ghana’s youth.

On his part, the CEO of Mobile Money Limited, Shaibu Haruna, expressed appreciation to Shatta Wale, describing him as an inspiration to the youth.

He praised Shatta Wale for his impact on the entertainment industry and his influence, saying the company was proud to be associated with him.

“We thank you for the things you’re doing for our youth — inspiring them and pushing the boundaries of Ghana’s music industry. We’re proud of your achievements and glad to be associated with you.”

Tens of thousands of fans thronged the Black Star Square in Accra on Saturday, October 18, for Shatta Fest 2025 x Shattabration: The King Calls, the highly anticipated birthday concert celebrating the dancehall artiste.

The event featured a star-studded lineup including Sarkodie, Samini, Wendy Shay, Medikal, and others, making it one of the biggest live events of the year.

According to the research, the concert, which was planned in just 13 days, recorded attendance far beyond the projected figures submitted to authorities for clearance.

Gates opened at 4:00 PM, and by 8:00 PM, the venue was nearing capacity, forcing security to manage an overflow of enthusiastic patrons.

Organisers had anticipated a maximum of 100,000 attendees, but the reality on the ground was a crowd estimated to be three to four times larger.

Using aerial imagery, drone footage, and on-ground crowd density mapping, JoyNews Research estimated that about 250,000 people filled the main Independence Square, with an additional 100,000 occupying the adjoining streets and open spaces.

Extending the analysis to the outer peripheries, particularly the Osu, Tema Station, nearby beaches, and stadium areas, the data shows total crowd could be as high as 400,000.

Shatta Wale’s Media and Public Relations Manager, Sammy Flex, described the turnout as a staggering surprise that went far beyond the team’s expectations.

“We didn’t anticipate the huge numbers at all. They filled the entire square, the stands, and even spilled into the streets. The drone shots captured people stretching from the stadium area all the way to Osu and Tema Station. The whole place was packed,” he revealed.

Despite the overwhelming attendance, the event was largely incident-free, thanks to emergency and safety measures put in place. Sammy Flex revealed that ambulances and five emergency vehicles were stationed on site, and Ghana Fire Service personnel intermittently sprayed water to cool the crowd when heat levels rose.

“When the heat got intense, I asked the Fire Service to sprinkle water on the fans. Thankfully, there were no major incidents,” he said.

He credited the swift organisation and teamwork for the success of the concert, emphasising that the event was conceived and executed within less than two weeks.

“We planned everything in just 13 days; the decision, preparation, everything. To see it turn out this successful shows that God truly used Shatta to bless the whole nation,” Sammy Flex noted.

For many fans and industry watchers, ShattaFest 2025 was more than a music event; it was a celebration of love, loyalty, and unity between Shatta Wale and his fan base, the Shatta Movement (SM).

Social media has since been flooded with videos and tributes praising the energy and organisation behind the historic show. As congratulatory messages continue to pour in, both Shatta Wale and his team have expressed deep gratitude to fans for making the event a resounding success.

Social media was abuzz with claims of theft, with some alleging that a stage monitor had been stolen during the event.

However, in an interview with Hitz FM, former manager of Shatta Wale, Sammy Flex, firmly dismissed the allegations, clarifying that no equipment was stolen.

According to Sammy Flex, the confusion stemmed from a brief technical hitch rather than any act of theft.

He explained that the stage area was overcrowded, making it difficult for the technical team to maintain control.

In the chaos, some cables were accidentally disconnected, which caused the monitors to go off temporarily, prompting engineers to remove some electrical equipment from the stage for safety.

He clarified that the announcement made by the MC, asking for the monitor to be “returned”, was misunderstood by many in the crowd.

Sammy Flex explained that that call was not for a stolen item but rather a prompt to get the equipment back on stage so the show could continue smoothly.

Sammy Flex added that with the overwhelming crowd and energy, maintaining calm was nearly impossible. The team, therefore, had to act quickly and proceed with the show as safely as possible.

The event, which drew a massive turnout of fans, has been hailed as one of Shatta Wale’s biggest homegrown concerts yet, proving once again the artist’s unmatched pull on the Ghanaian music scene.

Listen to Sammy Flex’s explanation below: