A pastor who claimed in a TikTok video that Ghanaian musician Shatta Wale would be assassinated has been arraigned before the Dansoman Circuit Court on charges of publishing false news.
Reverend Daniel Yaw Donkoh, also known as D.Y. Donkoh, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The court, presided over by Mrs. Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Basit, granted him bail of GHS 20,000 with three sureties, one to be justified.
Donkoh is to report to the police every two weeks, with the case adjourned to August 27 for a Case Management Conference.
Background to the Case
Prosecuting officer Chief Inspector Kwadwo Aboagye told the court that the complainant, Charles Nii Armah Mensah (popularly known as Shatta Wale), and his team found the video online on July 20.
The video, posted on Donkoh’s TikTok page, claimed the pastor had seen a vision of three armed men planning to assassinate the artist.
The post reportedly caused fear and emotional distress to Shatta Wale, prompting a formal complaint by his publicist, Sammy Flex, on July 21.
Efforts to reach Donkoh were unsuccessful until police learned that angry fans were planning to storm his church at Tabora Alhaji. Officers intervened and invited Donkoh for questioning to avoid potential unrest.
Intent Behind the Video
According to the prosecution, Donkoh admitted during investigations that he posted the video to grab Shatta Wale’s attention, not to incite fear.
His defense counsel argued for bail, citing that Donkoh is a known resident, a father of four, and founder of a church in Tabora, Accra.
The lawyer stressed that he had cooperated fully with authorities and posed no flight risk.
