Ghanaian sound engineer King Dee has raised concerns about what he describes as repeated police harassment due to his appearance.

Speaking in an interview with Nana Romeo on Atuu on April 25, 2026, he shared his experiences and addressed stereotypes surrounding people in the music industry.

“I am often harassed by the police because of my locks,” he said.

King Dee explained that, contrary to public perception, being in music does not mean one must adopt a lifestyle of smoking or drinking.

“People don’t live wayward lives because they’re doing music. I don’t smoke or drink. My dad and everyone around me can attest to that,” he stated.

According to him, individuals who engage in substance abuse would do so regardless of their profession, adding that the music industry is often unfairly blamed for personal choices.

“If someone chooses to drink or abuse substances because they are into music, they would still do the same even if they were in another profession, like teaching. It’s not about the music. However, some musicians have created the impression that such a lifestyle is part of the industry.” He shared.

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He compared how police operate in Ghana with what he has seen in the United States.

“The mentality here is very different. In the States, police would have friendly conversations with you whenever they meet you, but unlike Ghana, where they would forcefully ask you to come down from your car,” he noted.

He recounted a recent incident where he was stopped during a bus journey and searched by officers who claimed they were looking for illegal items. According to him, nothing was found.

“Recently, I was traveling on a bus when the police stopped us halfway through the journey. I was the first person they noticed. They asked me to stand up and search my bag, claiming they were looking for weapons and other items. They found nothing before moving on to the next person,” he narrated.

He expressed concern about what he sees as misplaced priorities in law enforcement.

“In this country, the police don’t do the important things, but they’re rather going about looking for someone to accuse of something,” he said.

Despite the challenges, he made it clear that he has no intention of changing his appearance.

“I will never cut my locks because of the police. It’s something I’ve always wanted to keep and I’ve kept my locks for about 20 years,” he added.

I do not smoke or drink, but I am often harassed by the police because of my locks. - King Dee, Sound Engineer#ATUU#UTVGhana pic.twitter.com/SDhcaYaZRR

— UTV Ghana (@utvghana) April 25, 2026