Ghanaian dancehall artiste Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., popularly known as Shatta Wale, has disclosed that he turned down a performance opportunity in Canada after organisers refused to meet his financial and travel conditions.

Speaking in an interview with Adesope Olajide, the “On God” hitmaker said his decision was based on understanding his value as an artiste, insisting that his brand commands premium treatment.

According to him, he requested a $300,000 performance fee along with a private jet arrangement, but the Canadian promoters declined the terms, questioning the justification for such an amount.

He said, “Recently, I got some Canadian promoters wanting me to come. And I said if they want me to come, they should get me a jet and pay me $300,000, and they were like, ‘Who will pay that amount?’”

He added that, in his view, local supporters in Ghana—particularly within mining communities—would readily meet even higher expectations without hesitation.

“But a mining community in Ghana will pay me $500,000 hands down and rent a jet for me to come. And these are people that love Shatta Wale; they are not even promoters,” he said.

Shatta Wale further explained that his reluctance to accept reduced international fees stems from concerns about his image and how fans perceive his status when performing abroad.

“I don’t want to come to London for people to run me cheap. I don’t want my fans to see me in London and see me on a bus and be like, ‘I thought you were a king? Why are you on a bus?’” he stated.

Despite his firm position on pricing, the award-winning dancehall artiste noted that he remains open to international bookings, although he expects his stature to be respected financially.

“I am not going to charge you the money I get paid in Ghana. But at least pay me $50,000, because when you put my picture on a flyer, know that I’m the kind of person the president calls to ask how we can build this industry,” he added.

Over the years, Shatta Wale has built a reputation as one of Ghana’s most influential and outspoken musicians, known not only for his hit songs but also for his bold public statements on industry standards and artist compensation.

Watch the interview below:

Come to Ghana. A normal gold mining area will give me $500,000 and rent a jet for me to come.” – Shatta Wale’s response to Canadian promoters after demanding $300,000 and a private jet for a show in Canada. pic.twitter.com/uLd82cKG4d

— EDHUB🌍ℹ (@eddie_wrt) June 7, 2026

Source: Yvonne Nyarko Agyemang