The perception that money is above the law and celebrities are untouchable is believed to have been changed after the notable arrests and prosecution by the Ghana Police Service.
2021, a year that much was wished for saw many celebrities prosecuted for acts that have been overlooked by the Police service for many years.
The appointment of the new Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare and notable arrests that were conducted under his watch, including the arrest and prosecution of Shatta Wale and Medikal garnered lots of conversations in the media and individual interactions.
2021 in retrospect in believed to be a year of the Police Service in Ghana, effective traffic control, arrest of notorious and wanted criminals across the country, effective neighbourhood patrols to mention a few.
Celebrities and entertainment industry players who were swooped by the effectiveness of the police service have been mentioned below with charges levelled against them.
1. Bullgod
The artiste manager, entertainment pundit and CEO of Bull House entertainment, Lawrence Nana Asiamah; popularly known as Bullgod is believed to be the first member of the entertainment fraternity who felt the rigorous nature of the law after threatening the president of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
He made those threats on national television while he was talking about the aggrieved customers of the closed financial institutions by the ruling government in 2017.
Bullgod was arrested by the National Investigation Bureau to assist with investigations and was released after three days of his arrest.
2. Akuapem Poloo
Ghanaian socialite, actress and social media influencer, Rosemond Alade Brown, professionally known as Akuapem Poloo was arrested in April after she posted obscene images of herself and her son on social media to mark her son’s birthday in June 2020.
The actress who had been tagged as a nudist by some individuals due to her dressing patterns and pictures she shared on Social media was sentenced to 90-days in prison for her actions by an Accra Circuit Court.
She was granted bail after her lawyers appealed the decision of the circuit court at the Criminal Court 2 Division of the High Court but still went on appealing the decision for a final ruling.
After 7 months of liberation, the actress appeared in court on December 1, 2021, only for her appeal to be dismissed and ordered to continue her 90-day sentence.
Akuapem Poloo before leaving to continue her sentence shared emotional messages with her son and loved ones on social media.
She is currently at the Nsawam female prison serving her sentence.
3. Shatta Wale
Charles Nii Armah Mensah better known as Shatta Wale in entertainment circles had a taste of prison after being arrested by the police on 20th October.
Shatta Wale was charged for the publication of false news and causing fear and panic after he and some members of his team pulled a prank and announced a Gun attack on the dancehall act.
The reggae/dancehall act was remanded in police custody and served a 5-day imprisonment sentence at the Ankaful Prison for a gunshot prank alongside his team members Nana Dope, Gangee and Deportee who were believed to be his accomplices.
Shatta Wale and his accomplices after spending 5 days at the Ankaful prisons were later granted bail to the tune of GH¢100,000.
The case is still in court and has been adjourned to January 25th, 2022.
4. Medikal
AMG signee and Rapper Samuel Adu Frimpong, popularly known as Medikal, also had a taste of the 4 walls of the Ankaful prisons.
The rapper was invited to the Police headquarters to assist with investigations only to be slapped with charges of Brandishing a weapon in a video he posted on September 22 on his Snapchat story.
The rapper was charged with the unlawful display of arms and ammunition, he was arraigned for court within 24 hours of his arrest on October 22. The Accra Circuit court he appeared before pronounced a 5-day prison sentence at the Ankaful prisons.
He reappeared in court after his 5-day stay at the Ankaful prisons and was granted Ghc 100,000.00 bail even though he pled not guilty to the charges levelled against him.
He is also expected to reappear in court on 25th January 2022.
5. Funny Face
A year that has been the saddest one for comedian and actor Funny Face, birth named Benson Nana Yaw Oduro Boateng, slapped with several charges which led him into and out of courtrooms and psychiatric hospitals.
He was brutally arrested on February 8 by the police for unlawfully firing arms he owned after a squabble with an owner of a pub he visited in Kasoa.
Funny Face was again arrested on October 18, 2021, after he published a video on his social media page, threatening to take the lives of some individuals including his mother of his twins Vanessa.
He was again spotted in another video threatening to take his own life, the police picked him up and arraigned him for court, the court ordered that he sought psychiatric assistance and took a break from social media.
He is since not been active on social and believes to be responding to treatment.
By: Caleb Asante Annor
