Ghanaian dancehall musician Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., popularly known as Shatta Wale, has accused the government of failing to settle payments for promotional services he and his team provided for the Black Stars ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

According to the musician, his team invested both money and resources into activities intended to support and promote Ghana’s national football team, including advertisements and social media publicity.

Speaking in an interview, Shatta Wale claimed that the outstanding amount has reached about GH¢5 million, despite the work having already been completed.

“For the postings and ads that we did for Black Stars, I think they owe me about GH¢5 million and they’ve not paid even a penny. You would call the minister and the deputy, but they won’t pick the call. This is total disrespect in this country and that’s why some of us are pissed,” he noted.

He further disclosed that his Hotwav team contributed US$100,000 to support the Black Stars, stressing that the contribution was handled through his office.

“With the World Cup that we did, you know we had to promote everything. We were supposed to be paid, but up till now, I’ve not been paid. My Hotwav team and I donated some money to the Black Stars. We gave them $100,000, and that one, it’s my office who had to go and deal with that,” he alleged.

Shatta Wale also criticised what he described as the misuse of public resources, particularly claims that some officials spend state funds on properties and lifestyles outside Ghana.

“When they get GH₵50 million, they want to go and buy a house in Canada. Some of them want to buy a house in America, take their children and fly them abroad, but that money is for the citizens,” he said.

Although he said he remains satisfied with President John Dramani Mahama and his political ideology, the musician admitted that no minister or presidential appointee currently stands out to him as a top performer.

“I’m happy with President Mahama and his ideology. So far, I don’t have any best-performing minister or appointees of the president. I can tell you why I don’t have any,” he stated.

The alleged unpaid World Cup promotional deal appears to be a major reason for his disappointment. Shatta Wale said his experience has convinced him to stop providing services to government officials without proper compensation.

“I’m not happy with all of them. They’re in their offices and they feel when they need you, that’s when they will reach out. Any minister who calls me for something, just know that I will charge you,” he declared.

His comments have placed renewed attention on how government institutions engage and compensate musicians and other creative professionals for public campaigns, particularly when their platforms are used to promote national causes.

Watch the interview below:

“I love President John Dramani Mahama’s ideology but not his appointees. I’m still owed GH¢5 million by the Sports Ministry for my promotions during the World Cup.”

—Ghanaian musician Shatta Wale expresses his admiration for President John Dramani Mahama’s ideology while noting… pic.twitter.com/giEvUs7UCc

— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) August 28, 2026

Source: Yvonne Nyarko Agyemang