This morning my attention was drawn by a weird news item: reportedly, a video was circulating on social media in Ghana showing some men killing people for rituals at a hideout purported to be in or around the Eastern Regional capital, Koforidua. True or untrue? Too often I find the reality hard to believe and am skeptical about the (alleged) facts and rumors. Justified or not justified?
According to the official website of the Eastern Regional Co-ordinating Council, the Eastern Region (19,323 square kilometres or 8.1% of the total land area of Ghana) is the sixth largest region of this West African country and with a population of 2.6 million people it houses 11% of Ghana’s population, making it the third most populous region, after the Ashanti and Greater Accra. The Ghana Tourism Authority tells us that the Eastern Region of Ghana is a rich blend of dramatic landscape, historical relics and traditional cultures.
This is exactly what the article presented below is all about, traditional culture. The content of the alleged video has been linked to the just ended burial rites of the late Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Oti Boateng and the Queen Mother, Nana Yaa Daani II. The linkage of the video to the funeral results from a directive issued on the night of May 16 by the New Juaben Traditional Council for residents to stay indoors.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Acheampong qualified the reported link between the video and the just ended burial rites as false and advised residents to treat these reports with contempt. He clarified that the announcement by the New Juaben Traditional Council was in line with customs and traditions, and to pay respect to the late Omanhene of the area.
We must take the Eastern Regional Security Council’s statement serious. However, it is important to note that the public is quick with associating traditional events such as burial rites with ritualistic practices including human sacrifices. The fact that these associations are the result of imagination and traditional beliefs is telling.
Screenshot from tv reporting on the alleged ritual murder in the Eastern Region – to view click here Warning: some readers may find this story disturbing
Eastern Regional Security Council disclaims video on alleged ritual murder
Eastern Regional Minister Seth Kwame Acheampong
Published: May 20, 2022 By: My Joy Online, Ghana
The Eastern Regional Security Council has refuted claims that the alleged ritual murder, captured on a video circulating on social media, occurred in the region.
According to the Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Acheampong, the assertions are false and must be treated with contempt.
In a statement signed by Mr. Acheampong, he noted that the entire report and video do not reflect the truth.
“The entire report and video with an unknown source being circulated on the social media purported to have happened in Koforidua in the Eastern Region is totally false and must be treated with the contempt that it deserves,” the statement emphasised.
A copy of the statement from the Eastern Regional Minister
A video circulating on social media shows some men killing people for rituals at a hideout purported to be in or around the Eastern Regional capital, Koforidua.
The content of the video has also been linked to the just ended burial rites of the late Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, Daasebre Oti Boateng and the Queen Mother, Nana Yaa Daani II.
Shot from the alleged ritual murder video
The linkage of the video to the funeral, results from a directive issued on the night of May 16, by the New Juaben Traditional Council for residents to stay indoors.
But the statement from the Eastern Regional Minister, clarified that the announcement was in line with customs and traditions; and to pay respect to the late Omanhene of the area.
The Regional Minister further explained that adequate security personnel were deployed at the funeral grounds, in and around Koforidua during the funeral rites, and that such an incident could not have happened.
He noted that the region is peaceful and safe. He further assured residents that “security agencies shall continue to work hard to ensure safety, peace and security in the region”.
Two fetish priests in the Eastern Region (Volta Region) have been apprehended and are suspected to be ritual killers. The article below is a follow-up on my posting of May 4.
Allegedly, a link exists with Togo, where the two men are hailing from. On this site I have presented several cases of ritual murders committed in Ghana. Ritual murder cases are seldom reported from Togo. This does not mean that in this country ritual practices and murders are non-existent. I suspect that it is more a question of under-reporting. There is no reason to believe that ritual murders do not occur in francophone African countries.
Unfortunately, there exists a bias in my reports on ritual murder cases across the African continent. The case presented below is another reason to be more vigilant and more balanced in my reporting on this site (webmaster FVDK).
How Fetish Priests Killed Ex-Soldier And Buried Him Including Others
The scene where the bodies were exhumed
Published: May 4, 2020 By: Modern Ghana
Details are emerging about how a special police team raided a shrine in the Eastern Region and exhumed headless human remains from the place.
At least three bodies were found buried in shallow graves when the special team raided the shrine where body parts were also found scattered all over the place.
Two fetish priests, namely Christian Lawoe Gameli aka Power-One, 40, and Famous Adukonu aka Scorpion, 36, who were operating a shrine called ‘Power 1 Herbal & Spiritual Centre’ located at Adu Kwadwo and Kofi Nyarko villages near Maame Dede Junction on the Nsawam to Adeiso road in the Upper West Akyem District of the Eastern Region, were arrested and brought to Accra during the raid.
The taxi driver, who was arrested alongside both fetish priests last Thursday, had been named as Allotey, and they were being detained by the police for ritual murder, fraud and the production of fake currencies.
The arrest is coming at a time when there are swelling allegations of collaboration between fetish priests, some spiritualists and some fake pastors in the country.
Old Soldier
It is turning out that at least one of the victims is believed to be a retired soldier, and his disappearance triggered intense police investigation that led to the raid.
The suspects allegedly murdered the 64-year-old ex-soldier, Edward Quartey Papafio, from Accra, who reportedly went to the shrine two weeks ago to seek spiritual help from the priests.
The soldier’s phone led investigators to the shrine, according to police sources.
He was reported to have been duped by the suspects who told him to go and come back in some days.
The old soldier later informed his wife and son, who was also a serving soldier, about the incident before visiting the shrine on the second attempt.
Shooting Incident
DAILY GUIDE gathered that when he went back to the shrine to confront them, the suspects asked him to sit somewhere in the shrine and in the process they shot him, killing him instantly.
They then buried him at the back of the shrine in the dress that he was wearing.
The deceased’s wife who was not hearing from him started calling his mobile phone several times, but the calls didn’t go through.
Police Intervention
The deceased soldier’s son went to the community in search of his late father before reporting the matter to the police CID, who also deployed some investigators to the community to gather more facts.
Their Roots
The fetish priests, as gathered, hail from Togo and came to stay at Suhum, but moved to settle in the current village about five years ago.
They have reportedly built two shrines and a hotel at separate locations during their short stay in the area and are said to be feared by the people.
Modus Operandi
They usually run advertisement and talk shows on Starr TV, a private television station based in Koforidua, to lure their clients who want to turn millionaires overnight.
They are said to have used their so-called powers to ‘dupe’ many clients and normally charge not less than GH¢1,000 as ‘participating’ fees.
Serial Killing
Some residents have made wild claims that a lot of people who visited the shrine vanished afterwards whenever the clients tried to fight back after being felt duped by the fetish priests.
The suspects, after the heinous crimes, allegedly bury the victims in their dresses in a manhole at the back of the shrine, and others in the rituals room after removing their parts.
They further claimed that some kids have been reported missing in the community ever since the duo settled in the area.
Some even alleged that the suspects usually ‘camped’ their clients who threaten to expose them when they failed to perform what they promise to do for them.
Some of the victims reportedly managed to escape and filed complaints at the police station at Adeiso, but the suspects were never arrested and questioned.
Marching Suspects
The police upon arresting the suspects marched them to the spots where they suspected the remains had been buried, and the suspects allegedly pointed to those spots for the bodies to be exhumed.
At around 11:00am on Thursday, the police used an excavator to dig the graveyard and also pulled down the walls of the shrine before exhuming fresh human skulls and plenty of bones.
The exhumation exercise ended around 4pm.
There are wild rumours in the village that a certain Kwashie Zormelo (age unknown) from Kasoa may have also been murdered by the suspects.
DAILY GUIDE understands the CID will be addressing the media on the matter at 2pm today.
How two fetish priests murdered and buried a biochemist, others at their shrine
Published: May 4, 2020 By: MyJoyOnLine
Two traditional priests are in the custody of the police for allegedly killing a biochemist consultant and siphoning what is suspected to be his blood into a gallon.
The deceased Edward Quartey-Papafio, 64, had left his house on January 15, 2020, at about 3:30 am after receiving a phone call.
According to the Director-General of the CID, COP Isaac Yeboah, after police investigations, it was discovered that the deceased was last spotted in Adeisu, near Nsawam in the Eastern region.
The police intensified investigation, and on April 21, 2020, they arrested suspects Christian Gameli Lawerh alias Power, 36, and Famous Adorkunu alias Scorpion, 37.
Both fetish priests hail from the Volta region but reside at Maame Dede near Adeisu.
After a search was conducted at their residences, police retrieved two pump action guns, a single barrel gun, together with eleven packets of cartridges from Lawerh’s room.
On April 29, both suspects admitted having interacted with the missing person for some time, but he was later shot and killed on January 15, 2020, at their shrine.
The suspects reiterated that the deceased was buried at a particular spot within the shrine and led police to the scene. The area was secured for an exhumation order to be granted by the court.
On April 30, the police including pathologists and other forensic experts went to Maame Dede and executed the exhumation.
The pathologists retrieved the decomposed body from a grave.
A second decomposed body whose name the suspect Gameli gave as Kwesi Zomelo also from Kasoa was retrieved from a separate grave.
The team later exhumed human parts, hair attachments, bead (belonging to a woman, police suspect), and bones from a third grave within the same perimeter.
A decomposed human flesh with bones wrapped in a cloth buried among the bodies was also retrieved from another grave. The team in addition retrieved human skulls together with bones, suspected to be human, hidden under two ‘idols’ in the house.
Investigations have so far established that on December 2019, the two conspired to murder Edward Quartey-Papafio, according to police.
They are alleged to have lured the deceased to their shrine and succeeded in collecting cash amounting to 10,000 Ghana cedis from him with a promise to fortify the deceased spiritually to enable his company to flourish.
On January 15, they invited Quartey-Papafio to the shrine for what they claimed to be the final purification rites but in the process they shot, killed and buried his body.
Police say after committing the crime, Lawerh took possession of the deceased’s Itel and Nokia mobile phones and handed them to his third wife, together with a bunch of keys.
Police say the second suspect Adorkunu, has confessed that he shot and killed Mr. Quartey-Papafio.
He also confessed to killing Zomelo and one of his masons after the deceased demanded money owed him.
According to COP Isaac Ken Yeboah, the remains exhumed from the shrine have been deposited at the Police Hospital Mortuary awaiting DNA testing and identification.
The suspects have been remanded and are awaiting trial.
Also Ghana is not an exception to the gruesome reality of the widespread occurrence of ritualistic murders in SSA-countries, as I stated in one of my previous posts. Can anyone explain that to me? (webmaster FVDK).
Four Headless Bodies Uncovered In Shrine
To listen to the report click on the image in the original article (in Source, below)
Published: May 2, 2020 By: Modern Ghana
The fetish priests and a taxi driver have been picked up in a joint security operation, carried out by armed police and military personnel from Accra, for allegedly killing six people at their shrine.
The police have given the names of the fetish priests only as Power One, believed to be 40 years old, and Famous, 36.
The shrine of both spiritualists was also named ‘Power 1 Herbal & Spiritual Centre’ located at Adu Kwadwo, near Maame Dede in the Upper West Akyem District of the Eastern Region.
The taxi driver, identified as Allotey, was also grabbed for allegedly aiding the fetish priests in committing the alleged crime.
The suspected fetish priests and the driver are being held for ritual murder, fraud, and the production of fake currencies after the raid at the shrine last Thursday.
DAILY GUIDE gathered that the shrine of both spiritualists was raided because the police suspected they had buried people there.
Upon their arrests, the police reportedly marched the suspects to spots where they suspected the remains had been buried, and the suspects allegedly pointed to those spots for the bodies to be exhumed.
The police retrieved fresh human head, skulls and other human parts tied in a polythene bag and they suspected it was to be used for sacrifice.
The suspects have been transferred to Accra along with the exhibits retrieved.
Two spiritualists at Adu Kwadwo Community near Maame Dede in the Upper West Akyem District of the Eastern Region have been busted by a joint team of Police and Military personnel.
The two fetish priests arrested are Power 1 and Scorpion.
They were arrested for alleged ritual murder and fraud and the production of fake currencies.
According to the report, the joint armed security team that carried out the operation has exhumed some two bodies.
Mybrytfmonline.com will provide detailed information about the operation as and when it unfolds.
Published: May 26 , 2019 , 13:58 By: graphic.com.gh
The Police in Osenase, a community near Akwatia in the Eastern region have arrested a 32-year-old seamstress known as Humu Iddrisu for allegedly conspiring with a ‘Pastor’ in a failed ritual murder of a 31-year-old woman identified as Esther Dzakah.
They allegedly lured her by pretending to offer her spiritual assistance for her husband to be more responsible.
The victim who suffered deep cuts on her left cheek and mouth with her right forefinger cut off is currently on admission at St Dominic Hospital in Akwatia.
Information gathered indicates the suspect, Humu Iddrisu, who is a friend to the victim recommended the suspected Pastor – who is on the run – to help her fix her marital predicament by making her husband who has shirked responsibility in taking care of their children to be more responsible.
On the fateful day, the suspect lured the victim to take Gh₵13,000 belonging to her husband to see the Pastor for the spiritual help.
They lodged at Seth Mensah Guest House around 3pm but around 7:00pm the suspects took the victim to an uncompleted building 500 meters away from the Guest House where the Pastor forcibly gave the victim a concoction as part of the rituals.
The victim suddenly became weak after taking the concoction.
The suspects swiftly hit her head with cement block and bolted.
The victim told Police that, she regained consciousness after few minutes though the suspects thought she was dead. She said while lying motionless she heard the Pastor telling his accomplice that he was going to bring something from the nearby bush.
According to the victim, she quickly gathered strength and struggled with her friend, suspect – Humu Iddrisu – biting her severely on her cheeks before she managed to escape to the guest house and screamed for help.
Workers at the Guest House quickly called the Police around 10:45pm upon which the Police Patrol Team at Awaham junction responded swiftly, rushed the victim who was bleeding profusely to the St.Dominic Hospital where she is currently on admission.
Police investigations led to the arrest of the Humu Iddrisu, but the Pastor is at large.
Police also retrieved the Gh₵13,000 which was in possession of the victim from the crime scene. It is highly suspected that the suspects attempted to rather use the victim for sacrifice.
The Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Regional Police Command, DSP Ebenezer Tetteh told Starr News that the suspect will be put before Court on May 27, 2019 while efforts are underway to arrest the Pastor.
Related article: 32-year-old seamstress grabbed by police after failed ritual killing attempt
Published: May 27 or May 26, 2019 By: Nii Ntreh
The police in the Eastern region have arrested a 32-year-old seamstress, Humu Iddrisu, for allegedly conspiring with another in attempt at ritual murder of a 31-year-old woman. Humu Iddrisu, a 32-year-old seamstress at Osenase in the Eastern region, has been arrested by the police for allegedly trying to lure and murder another woman in connivance with another person described as a pastor. According to the Graphic.com.gh report sighted by YEN.com.gh, Humu tried to lure her near-victim Esther Dzikah, by pretending to offer her spiritual assistance for Dzikah’s husband to be more responsible. The report has it that Iddrisu, a friend known to Dzikah, recommended the said pastor, to help Dzikah fix her marital predicament by making her husband who has shirked responsibility in taking care of their children to be more responsible.
On the fateful day, the suspect asked Dzikah to take GHC 13,000 belonging to her husband to see the pastor for the spiritual help. They lodged at Seth Mensah Guest House around 3pm. But around 7pm, Iddrisu and the pastor took the victim to an uncompleted building 500 meters away from the Guest House where the pastor forcibly gave the victim a concoction as part of the rituals which made her collapse. The victim told police that she regained consciousness after sometime though the suspects thought she was dead. She said while lying motionless, she heard the pastor telling his accomplice that he was going to bring something from the nearby bush.
According to the victim, she quickly gathered strength and struggled with her Iddrisu, biting her severely on her cheeks, before she managed to escape to the guest house and screamed for help. Workers at the guest house quickly called the police around 10:45 pm upon which a patrol team at Awaham responded swiftly and rushed the victim who was bleeding profusely to the St.Dominic Hospital where she is currently on admission. Police investigations led to the arrest of the Humu Iddrisu, but the pastor is at large.
Police also retrieved the GHC 13,000 which was in possession of the victim from the crime scene. It is highly suspected that the suspects attempted to rather use the victim for sacrifice.
