By Issah Olegor
Dancehall Artist Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., popularly known as Shatta Wale, has publicly denied receiving or buying a stolen luxury vehicle from a former intelligence chief, after the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) seized his Lamborghini Urus as part of an ongoing transnational criminal probe.
In a fiery Facebook Live session on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, the award-winning musician distanced himself from any alleged involvement in a criminal enterprise involving Kwabena Adu-Boahene, a former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau (NSB), and Nana Kwabena Amuah, a Ghanaian national currently serving time in the United States for fraud-related offences.
EOCO launched the seizure operation in June this year following a 2023 request from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Justice.
The request centred on efforts to recover assets bought with the proceeds of fraud by Amuah, who was sentenced to 86 months in a U.S. federal prison after being found guilty of operating a multimillion-dollar financial fraud ring.
One of the high-value assets under scrutiny was a 2019 Lamborghini Urus, which has been in the possession of Shatta Wale.
EOCO’s Surveillance and Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) carried out a coordinated visit to the musician’s Trassaco Valley residence, one of Accra’s most exclusive communities.
According to EOCO, the operation was “civil and professional,” and the officers were armed per standard protocol. The agency said Shatta Wale was cooperative and personally opted to deliver the vehicle to EOCO’s office the next day to avoid unwanted media attention.
Smear Campaign
But the artist has described the operation as traumatic, unnecessary, and an attempt to smear his reputation.
“I was shocked. They came with guns to my house and started questioning me about a car I worked hard to buy. They told me some spy chief gave it to me — that’s a lie,” Shatta Wale said in his broadcast.
He indicated that he refused to implicate Kwabena Adu-Boahene in the transaction debacle as he never bought any car from him.
He accused EOCO of acting on baseless information allegedly provided by Kwabena Adu-Boahene, the former NSB boss, who reportedly claimed to have gifted Shatta a fleet of luxury vehicles — including the Lamborghini, a Rolls-Royce, and a Toyota Land Cruiser.
“I don’t know this Adu Boahene man. I don’t do business with him. I’ve never taken any car from him or any government official. I bought my cars with my music money, and I have the documents to prove it,” the musician stated emphatically.
Shatta Wale insisted that despite showing evidence of legitimate ownership, EOCO took the vehicle anyway, claiming it was linked to a wider investigation and that the owner was killed in the car in the United States.
International Dimensions
EOCO confirmed that the Lamborghini is considered an asset potentially purchased using proceeds of crime and is subject to repatriation.
A formal Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) request is expected from U.S. authorities to have the car returned as part of efforts to recover $4.7 million in restitution owed by Amuah.
In a significant revelation, EOCO also disclosed that both Shatta Wale and Kwabena Adu-Boahene have been listed as “persons of interest” in the investigation and may be required to assist in future inquiries.
The final investigative report is expected to be shared with the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Political Undertones and Fallout
Shatta Wale, known for his controversial yet influential voice in Ghanaian entertainment, didn’t mince words in his criticism of EOCO’s leadership.
He singled out EOCO Executive Director Raymond Archer, warning that actions like this could have political repercussions.
“Raymond Archer, this your EOCO move go make NDC lose elections,” he said bluntly in his Facebook post, suggesting political manipulation behind the raid.
Though EOCO maintains the operation was apolitical and purely procedural, the musician’s claims have ignited public debate, with some supporters defending his integrity and others calling for a full probe into how the car came into his possession.
A Larger Crackdown on Financial Crimes
This incident forms part of a wider crackdown on international financial crimes and asset recovery, as Ghanaian authorities deepen cooperation with foreign law enforcement agencies.
EOCO’s involvement in repatriating assets to foreign jurisdictions underlines Ghana’s commitment to fighting cross-border economic crimes.
As of now, Shatta Wale has not been formally charged. But being tagged a “person of interest” in such a high-profile case poses reputational risks. The artist has vowed to clear his name.
“I’m not a criminal. I’m not a fraud boy. I’m a hard-working Ghanaian youth who’s made it through music. Don’t use propaganda to destroy me,” he declared passionately.
The case continues to unfold, with EOCO expected to make further statements following the MLA request from U.S. authorities.
For now, the Lamborghini remains in EOCO’s custody — a key piece in a transnational jigsaw puzzle involving spies, luxury cars, and the intersection of celebrity and crime.
