Ghanaian dancehall star Shatta Wale has responded to criticism surrounding his interaction with Jomoro Member of Parliament Dorcas Affo-Toffey during a performance at the 2026 NkrumahFest celebration in Nkroful.
The incident attracted considerable attention online after videos showed the legislator approaching the musician while he was performing before a large crowd.
Shatta Wale appeared unhappy during the brief exchange, leading to different reactions from social media users. Some criticised the artiste’s response, while others argued that the interruption occurred at a sensitive point in his performance.
What happened on stage?
The incident occurred while Shatta Wale was entertaining the audience at NkrumahFest.
Footage circulating online showed Affo-Toffey walking onto the stage and attempting to speak with the artiste. The audio from the initial conversation was not sufficiently clear to establish exactly what was said between the two.
Reports, however, indicated that the MP was communicating with Shatta Wale about his allocated performance time.
The musician subsequently expressed his displeasure and indicated that he was working while on stage, drawing a comparison between his performance and the work carried out by public officials in their respective offices.
The exchange quickly became one of the most discussed moments from the event.
Shatta Wale reacts to criticism
Following the incident, Shatta Wale pushed back against people who criticised his conduct.
The dancehall artiste maintained that his actions should be understood within the context of his performance and the circumstances surrounding the interruption.
His reaction has added another dimension to the controversy, with supporters and critics continuing to debate whether his response to the MP was appropriate.
The incident has also highlighted the difficulty of managing stage schedules during large public events, particularly when several dignitaries and performers are involved.
MP later addressed the audience
After the exchange with Shatta Wale, Affo-Toffey took the microphone and addressed the gathering.
According to reports, the legislator used the opportunity to appreciate Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Member of Parliament for Ellembelle, for organising the event.
She praised the NkrumahFest celebration and expressed hope that subsequent editions would continue to grow.
Shatta Wale later returned to the centre of the stage and continued engaging the audience.
Social media reactions divided
The stage encounter generated mixed reactions across social media.
Some users accused Shatta Wale of being disrespectful towards the legislator, while others argued that the artiste had a reason to be frustrated by an interruption in the middle of his set.
Another factor complicating the online debate is that the available footage does not clearly capture the entire conversation between Shatta Wale and Affo-Toffey.
As a result, some of the claims about exactly what was communicated during the exchange remain based on interpretations of the video rather than a complete recording of the conversation.
NkrumahFest attracts large crowd
The incident happened during NkrumahFest in Nkroful, the hometown of Ghana’s first president, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
The annual celebration combines cultural, political and entertainment activities and attracts people from different parts of Ghana.
Shatta Wale’s appearance was one of the entertainment highlights, with a large crowd gathering to watch the dancehall performer.
The energy of the audience remained high despite the brief disagreement on stage.
Shatta Wale continues to command attention
The controversy is another example of the intense public interest surrounding Shatta Wale’s activities and statements.
The artiste has built a reputation for speaking openly about issues involving his career, music industry relationships and public criticism.
His latest response has ensured that the NkrumahFest stage incident continues to generate conversation beyond the event itself.
For now, both the original stage encounter and Shatta Wale’s response remain subjects of discussion among Ghanaian entertainment audiences.
While opinions differ over the incident, the available footage shows that the musician eventually resumed his performance after the brief interaction with the Jomoro MP.
