ShattaFest UK has been called off after police ordered the event to close over serious safety concerns following an overcrowding incident that reportedly triggered a stampede.
The festival, which was expected to attract thousands of fans, was shut down after the venue exceeded its authorised capacity, according to UK police. Authorities stepped in after the situation escalated, citing public safety as the priority.
A police officer, speaking in a video circulated online, explained why the event could not continue.
“There’s been a massive accident, a stampede which led to quite a lot of people getting hurt, and for that reason and for public safety it has to be shut down.”
Following the intervention by police, organisers Ghana Party in the Park released a statement asking ticket holders and supporters to stay away from the venue while emergency responders dealt with the incident.
“Due to a major incident at the festival site, the event has been temporarily paused.
Please do not travel to or come to the festival site until further notice.”
The organisers said emergency services and the relevant authorities were working at the scene and appealed to the public to cooperate by avoiding the area.
“We kindly ask everyone to stay away from the area to allow them to carry out their work safely.
We will provide further updates as soon as more information becomes available. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and cooperation.”
Despite describing the situation as a temporary pause in their statement, the event was ultimately cancelled after police deemed it unsafe for it to continue because of overcrowding.
ShattaFest had been billed as one of the major Ghanaian entertainment events in the United Kingdom, with dancehall star Shatta Wale scheduled to headline the programme. The festival was expected to draw fans from across the UK and other parts of Europe.
As of the latest update, organisers had not announced whether the festival would be rescheduled or whether ticket holders would be offered refunds.
Meanwhile, UK authorities have not officially confirmed the number of people injured or disclosed whether any arrests were made in connection with the incident.
