Pastor arrested after prophesying Shatta Wale’s death

A self-proclaimed prophet, Reverend Daniel Yaw Donkoh, has been arrested following a controversial prophecy about Ghanaian dancehall icon, Shatta Wale, which stirred public outrage and provoked a strong reaction from the artist himself.

Police sources confirmed that Rev. Donkoh was picked up at his residence in Accra late Friday night, July 25, barely three days after his “doom prophecy” video surfaced online.

The arrest follows pressure from Shatta Wale, who publicly demanded swift action from the Ghana Police Service, warning of potential consequences if the clergyman was not held accountable.

The Prophecy 

The incident began when Rev. Donkoh, in a video posted on social media, claimed to have received two divine revelations foretelling an assassination attempt on Shatta Wale, born Charles Nii Armah Mensah.

In the first vision, he claimed the musician narrowly escaped a violent attack by armed men. In the second, the attackers allegedly succeeded in killing him, claiming self-defence when apprehended.

Describing himself as an admirer of Shatta Wale, the prophet urged the musician to embark on a spiritual retreat involving fasting and prayer to avert the danger.

He also called on the general public to pray for the star’s safety.

But Shatta Wale, known for his fiery persona and no-holds-barred approach to critics, responded quickly.

In a post on his official Facebook page, he accused the prophet of fearmongering and manipulating public sentiment for attention.

“If them no arrest you today like ago talk say Law no deh Ghana. Thank you, IGP, for showing us that the Law is working! Evil people and bad mind,” Shatta Wale wrote. “Man of which god do you worship at all?”

A Demand for Justice or an Attack on Faith?

This is not the first time Shatta Wale has clashed with religious figures. In his follow-up posts on X (formerly Twitter), the SM boss referenced previous incidents where similar “death prophecies” went unchecked under the leadership of former Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.

He lamented that such predictions had become common in Ghana, posing psychological and emotional threats to celebrities and public figures.

He wrote, “Men of God indeed. This is what Dampare supported and it escalated. Ghana Police, if you don’t arrest this man within one week, nobody should blame me for what I am capable of doing — and it won’t be violence, but a lesson to this country.”

The artist also condemned what he called the commercialization of religion, accusing pastors of seeking clout and financial gain at the expense of spiritual integrity.

“Whilst God is telling me to talk to his people through music… self-acclaimed men of whom god… keep brainwashing people looking for trends just to cash out from innocent souls,” he posted.

Rev. Donkoh’s arrest marks a notable shift in the Ghana Police Service’s response to public prophecies deemed to incite fear or panic.