How Rapperholic and ShattaFest reignited calls for bigger, better event venues in Ghana

On September 27, 2025, one of the biggest nights in Ghana’s music industry took place in Kumasi, where award-winning rapper Sarkodie held his annual Rapperholic concert in the Ashanti Regional capital.

However, the intended venue, the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, came with specific restrictions, leaving organizers to utilize only a small portion of the stadium.

That didn’t stop fans and revelers, who sold out the venue and beyond.

Fast forward a few weeks later, Accra witnessed an even bigger spectacle.

The Independence Square, with a larger capacity, was filled to the brim for a concert hosted by Dancehall musician Shatta Wale in celebration of his birthday on October 18, 2025.

Social media users watched in awe as thousands upon thousands of fans, many clad in white, poured into the already overflowing venue.

How massive crowds stormed the Independence Square for ShattaFest

A national conversation on venue capacity

In light of these events, many observers and entertainment pundits have renewed calls for the construction of a dedicated, world-class event center capable of hosting large-scale shows safely.

After Rapperholic, artist manager and event organizer Bullgod expressed serious concerns about the Baba Yara Stadium setup, calling it unsafe:

“Some of these things could have caused stampedes and deaths. If you had that crowd on that stage, you put pressure on that part of the structure.”

Social media echoed similar sentiments, with several users urging the government and private sector to prioritize infrastructure for the creative industry.

One user wrote: “The numbers are crazy and it’s clear Ghana needs a bigger space than the Independence Square and the stadium. I was praying there was no stampede ’cos I don’t know how the emergency services could have managed that… The Creative Arts and Tourism Ministry must work with government and private partners on getting a bigger venue.”

Another recalled a moment from a previous concert: “I remember when a Sarkodie fan asked him on stage to advocate to the government to build a bigger arena. We saw what happened in Kumasi and now in Accra too.”

Shatta Wale’s crowd raises safety concerns

Some commenters pointed to Shatta Wale‘s massive fan base, suggesting that the current venues are simply too small for his shows.

“All this for Shatta Movement hmmm. Ghana needs a bigger venue for Shatta Wale,” A netizen stated.

Others blamed organizers for inadequate planning: “Shatta Wale shouldn’t be allowed to organize shows without proper planning. He should be given a venue with a set capacity like the stadium — and once that limit is reached, no one else should be allowed in.”

Some even went as far as calling for a temporary ban on Shatta Wale’s large-scale shows until suitable venues are constructed.

What’s next?

These back-to-back, high-attendance events have made one thing clear: Ghana’s entertainment scene is outgrowing its current infrastructure.

With the “December in Ghana” festivities approaching, concerns around transportation, venue safety, crowd control, and emergency response will remain front and center.

The government has previously pledged to make budgetary allocations to the creative arts sector in the upcoming 2026 national budget.

But whether those plans include the construction of new event venues remains to be seen.

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ID/EB