By Nadia Ntiamoah
Ghanaian dancehall superstar Shatta Wale has launched a blistering attack on the organisers of ShattaFest UK and some patrons after the much-publicised event in London was cancelled following a stampede scare and serious safety concerns that forced UK authorities to shut down the festival.
The musician, who was billed as the headline act at the event, expressed frustration over what he described as poor planning by organisers and irresponsible behaviour by some attendees, claiming that the chaotic situation could have resulted in a far greater tragedy.
Speaking in a video after the incident, Shatta Wale questioned why some people arrived at the festival grounds carrying gas cylinders, cooking oil, cookers and other cooking equipment, sarcastically suggesting that some patrons came prepared to fry kelewele, roast yams and pound fufu instead of attending a music concert.
Visibly disappointed, the dancehall star said such behaviour had no place at an international entertainment event and only worsened an already difficult situation.
The comments came after ShattaFest UK, organised as part of the annual Ghana Party in the Park celebrations, descended into chaos when thousands of fans reportedly overwhelmed the venue, creating dangerous overcrowding at the entrance.
According to UK authorities, the venue exceeded its approved capacity after huge numbers of patrons attempted to gain entry through a single access point, resulting in a crowd surge that triggered panic among attendees.
Emergency services and police officers were immediately deployed after several people reportedly collapsed while others sustained injuries during the crowd crush.
A UK police officer captured in a widely circulated video announced that the event had been cancelled in the interest of public safety.
“There’s been a massive accident, a stampede which led to quite a lot of people getting hurt, and for that reason and for public safety it has to be shut down,” the officer said.
Eyewitness accounts and reports circulating after the incident also suggested that panic intensified following concerns about gas cylinders at or near parts of the venue, with some reports alleging a minor gas-related incident involving cooking equipment.
While the precise role of the reported gas incident has not been officially confirmed by authorities, Shatta Wale blamed both organisers and attendees for allowing such items into the festival environment.
He accused the promoters of failing to properly manage the event and creating conditions that compromised public safety.
The musician also criticised what he described as corporate greed and poor crowd management, arguing that organisers should have anticipated the large turnout and ensured stricter safety protocols were in place.
Despite his anger, Shatta Wale commended the UK police, emergency medical personnel and other security agencies for acting swiftly to prevent what he believes could have turned into a major disaster.
According to him, the intervention by British authorities demonstrated professionalism and likely saved lives by stopping the event before the situation deteriorated further.
Following the cancellation, Shatta Movement Empire, the musician’s management team, issued an official statement expressing deep sorrow over the unfortunate events.
The management described the cancellation as heartbreaking but stressed that the safety and well-being of fans remained their highest priority.
“Our hearts are with everyone affected,” the statement said, adding that nothing was more important than protecting the lives of the thousands of people who had gathered to celebrate music, unity and culture.
The management also urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified reports, particularly rumours suggesting fatalities, insisting that only official information from UK authorities should be relied upon.
It further apologised to fans who travelled from different parts of the United Kingdom and Europe to attend the concert, promising that efforts would be made to organise another performance to make up for the disappointment.
ShattaFest UK had generated enormous anticipation in the weeks leading to the event. The excitement was further heightened after Ghanaian oil and gas entrepreneur and Rigworld Group Chief Executive Officer Kofi Amoa-Abban presented Shatta Wale with a luxury black Ferrari from his personal collection as a gesture recognising his contribution to African music and endorsing his UK performance.
The cancellation therefore came as a major disappointment to thousands of fans who had expected one of the biggest Ghanaian music events in Europe this year.
