NPP Splashes GHC 2 million On Shatta Wale Through Exim Bank

The Akufo Addo administration acting through the state-owned Ghana Export-Import Bank has splashed a staggering GHC 2 million on musician Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jnr (Shatta Wale) for his alleged role as a brand ambassador for made in Ghana products.

Another entertainer known for his strong affinity to the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) Kofi Adu, known in showbiz as Agya Koo was also reportedly gifted  GHC 250, 000.

These disturbing expenditure by the Exim Bank was revealed at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament on Wednesday, September 9, 2020.

According to the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Exim Bank responsible for Finance and Administration, Kwame Adu-Darkwa, the amount was for a “media campaign” and that an independent consultant had selected Shatta Wale.

“As deputy CEO of Exim Bank I have not signed or seen a cheque signed to any artiste that you have mentioned for that amount. You will be surprised how brand ambassadors can be good at promoting a particular sector,” Mr. Adu-Darkwa said, much to the chagrin of some members of parliament who thought the amount was wasteful.

This is not the first time the Exim Bank has made questionable payments to people associated with the governing NPP.

Some three years ago, the Exim Bank virtually gifted GHC 8 million to the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling party to fund a phantom farming project that cannot be traced.

Meanwhile, Whatsup News can report that the seeming financial incentives being extended to Shatta Wale is part of a grand plan by the shadow campaign machinery of the NPP controlled by President Akufo Addo’s cousin and right-hand-man, Gabby Asare Otchere Darko.

Incidentally, Shatta Wale is also the brand ambassador for Asaase FM, an extravagant radio station owned by Mr. Otchere-Darko.

Insider information available to Whatsup News indicates that the flirtation between the NPP and Shatta Wale is due to his huge cult following in what has been dubbed The Shatta Movement (SM) and his huge social media following.

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The NPP is targeting reportedly targeting at least a quarter of the 2.5 million fans base of Shatta Wale to leverage its chances in the December 2020 general elections.

Early June 2020, Mr. Otchere-Darko went on twitter to shower praises on Shatta Wale on how his SM fan base was well-organised. “In contemplation… I have watched and have been impressed about the apparent growing maturity of this young man. He recognises his influence on young people and seems determined to exploit it for positivity. His actions and messages in this Covid-19 period have been exemplary,” Gabby stated, to which Shatta Wale acknowledged by saying: “Thank you, sir, coming from you means a lot to me and the whole Shatta Movement.”

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Our sources say this was the nuanced kick-starting of the plan by Gabby to leverage on SM fans for the re-election bid of President Akufo Addo in December 2020.

On June 14, 2020, ahead of the full political campaign season Shatta Wale massively endorsed President Akufo’s second term bid, saying the incumbent president deserves another shot at the presidency.