10 Ghanaian Celebrities Who Faced Jail Sentences For Various Reasons

The lives of celebrities often seem glamorous and carefree, but behind the spotlight, some have faced legal troubles that landed them in jail.

Here are a few Ghanaian celebrities who served jail sentences for various reasons:

Kwaw Kese (Emmanuel Kofi Botchwey)

In 2014, rapper Kwaw Kese found himself in legal trouble after being arrested in Kumasi for publicly smoking a substance believed to be Indian hemp. He was remanded in Kumasi Central Prison before being bailed out. Kwaw Kese was later sentenced to one-day imprisonment and a fine of GHc1,200, which he paid, marking a brief but impactful encounter with the law.

Daasebre Gyamenah

Daasebre Gyamenah, a prominent highlife musician, faced a major legal issue when he was arrested at Heathrow Airport in London. He was found with substances suspected to be cocaine, with a street value of about £100,000 concealed in his suitcase. Gyamenah spent 11 months in jail before being released. The incident had a significant impact on his career and personal life.

Ibrahim Sima

Ibrahim Sima, known as the CEO of Exopa Modelling Agency and a respected figure in the fashion industry, was arrested in 2009 at Kotoka International Airport for carrying a substance believed to be weed. Despite denying knowledge of the drugs, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Tragically, he passed away in 2014 while serving his sentence.

Nana Akwasi Agyemang (Geeman)

Geeman, known for his musical talents and dance skills, had his life take a dark turn when he was involved in a fatal incident. In 1995, Geeman and Jagger Pee were jailed after Geeman shot a taxi driver to death. He was initially sentenced to death by hanging, but he was later released in 2009 due to a presidential pardon, having spent 14 years behind bars. Geeman’s story took a transformative turn, as he became a pastor after his release.

Isaac Abeiku Aidoo

Isaac Abeiku Aidoo, the CEO of Goodies Production, faced legal trouble when he was arrested at Kotoka International Airport in 2008 for attempting to transport cocaine into the United States. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison, serving 6 years before his release in 2014. Aidoo had been a significant figure in the music production industry in Ghana during the early 2000s.

Richard Kwabena (Shaka Zulu)

Shaka Zulu, a television personality and bouncer, found himself convicted of robbery along with three accomplices. They were sentenced to 30 years in prison each for violently robbing a businessman. The trial led to convictions for conspiracy to commit a crime and robbery, marking a drastic fall from grace for Shaka Zulu.

Medikal & Shatta Wale

Both musicians, Medikal and Shatta Wale, faced legal trouble around the same time. Shatta Wale was declared wanted by the police after planning a controversial stunt involving claims of his own death. He was arrested and spent time behind bars before being released on bail. Medikal, on the other hand, faced charges for brandishing a gun on social media. Both artists spent approximately a week in jail before being released on bail.

Funny Face (Nana Yaw Oduro Boateng)

Comic actor Funny Face faced legal and mental health challenges when he was arrested after a public outburst and threats towards his baby mama and colleagues. The incident led to his spending one night behind bars before being sentenced to receive mental care. After several weeks in a psychiatric hospital, Funny Face was eventually released.

Afia Schwarzenegger 

Controversial media personality Afia Schwarzenegger was issued a bench warrant for her immediate arrest by the Tema High Court B. This comes after she was sentenced to 10 days in prison and fined GHC60,000 for contempt of court on December 1, 2022.

Afia Schwarzenegger’s contempt charge stemmed from her appearance on UTV’s “United Showbiz,” where she discussed a romantic relationship with Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP. Despite a court order to refrain from such discussions, she continued, leading to a contempt application from Chairman Wontumi.

The court not only fined Afia Schwarzenegger but also issued a bench warrant for her arrest, making her a wanted individual. This case emphasizes the court’s commitment to upholding its authority and preserving the fairness of ongoing legal proceedings.

These stories remind us that fame and success do not shield individuals from facing legal consequences for their actions. While some have managed to rebuild their lives and careers, others have faced lasting impacts from their time behind bars.

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