Ghana Police Nab 32-Year-Old Security Guard for Impersonating ASP at Shatta Wale’s ShattaFest
The Ghana Police Service has taken into custody a 32-year-old man, Akoto Nelson, for allegedly impersonating an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) to sneak into Shatta Wale’s star-studded 40th birthday concert at Black Star Square without paying.
The arrest, made on Sunday, October 19, underscores ongoing efforts to protect the integrity of public events and police uniforms amid rising incidents of fraud.
According to an official police statement, Nelson was nabbed by the National Operations Directorate (NOD) Surveillance Unit after being observed in a full police uniform—complete with ASP insignia—and acting suspiciously during the ShattaFest 2025 festivities the previous evening.
Preliminary investigations reveal that Nelson, employed as a security guard and messenger at a private firm, had donned a uniform purportedly belonging to a deceased officer to gain unauthorized free entry and possibly other privileges at the high-profile event.
Upon apprehension, a search of Nelson yielded a cache of suspicious items: a toy P99 pistol, pepper spray and its pouch, two ZTE mini handsets with charger, a Xinfa cutter knife, complimentary cards, a voter ID in the name of Akoto Nelson Elikem, and a birth certificate under Nelson Akoto.
These discoveries suggest premeditation, though police have not yet confirmed if the uniform was stolen or obtained illicitly.
Nelson remains in custody at an Accra facility, assisting with inquiries, and is slated for arraignment in the coming days on charges likely including unlawful possession and use of police attire, in violation of the Restriction on Use of Military Uniforms and Equipment Act, 1967 (NLCD 177), which carries penalties of fines or imprisonment.
The incident at ShattaFest—a massive bash powered by Mobile Money Ghana and MTN MoMo that drew thousands for performances by Wendy Shay, Medikal, and a reconciliatory set with Samini—has sparked online chatter about event security lapses.
While the concert itself was a triumph, with fans in white celebrating unity, this breach highlights vulnerabilities at large gatherings, echoing past cases like the 2022 arrest of Marcus Dankwah for similar impersonation in a viral video.
Police have reiterated warnings against such deceptions, which erode public trust and could facilitate crimes at crowded venues.
As investigations continue, authorities are probing potential accomplices and the uniform’s provenance, vowing swift justice to deter copycats. Shatta Wale’s team has yet to comment, but the episode serves as a stark reminder for enhanced vetting at future spectacles in Ghana’s vibrant entertainment scene.
