Ghanaian dancehall artiste Shatta Wale has stated that he has never received any payment from ride-hailing company Shaxi, despite actively promoting the brand since its launch.
Speaking in a recent interview, the musician said his involvement with Shaxi has been driven purely by a desire to support a Ghanaian-owned business and create opportunities for young people, rather than for financial gain.
Shatta Wale explained that many people assume he earns large sums of money from the brand because of how closely he is associated with it. However, he insisted that he has never taken even GH₵1 from the company.
According to him, his decision to support Shaxi was inspired by the vision of its founder, Samuel Safo, popularly known as Showboy, who he said is committed to creating jobs for the youth through the ride-hailing service.
The dancehall star emphasised that his endorsement of the brand was meant to help promote local entrepreneurship and encourage Ghanaians to support homegrown businesses.
“I have never taken even one cedi from Shaxi,” Shatta Wale said. “People think I’m making money from it, but that is not the case. I am only trying to support a Ghanaian business and help create jobs for the youth.”
He used the opportunity to call on the government to provide more support to local start-ups and innovative businesses such as Shaxi. According to him, many young entrepreneurs in Ghana have brilliant ideas but lack the resources and policy backing needed to scale their operations.
Shatta Wale stressed that if the government offers the right support systems—such as favourable policies, financial assistance and infrastructure—local companies could grow to compete with international brands operating in the country.
The musician also noted that empowering indigenous businesses would help reduce unemployment and strengthen the national economy.
He urged policymakers to prioritise initiatives that encourage entrepreneurship among young people, adding that the creative industry and the technology sector could become major drivers of economic growth if given adequate support.
Shatta Wale further encouraged the public to believe in and patronise Ghanaian brands, saying that collective support from citizens can help local businesses expand and thrive.
His comments have sparked conversation on social media, with many fans praising his willingness to support a local company without demanding payment, while others echoed his call for stronger government backing for Ghanaian start-ups.
