‘We, the people of Mafi, are not murderers. We are a people of peace, dignity, and hard work. It is through farming, fishing, craftsmanship, and honest toil that we sustain ourselves and contribute to Ghana. Wealth does not come from bloodshed or ritual killings. Wealth comes from sweat, perseverance, and the blessings of our deities, who safeguard and protect us when we live uprightly.’
These are the words of the Awafiaga of the Mafi Traditional Area, Togbe Awudza Adabla XV, at a press conference at Mafi Avakpedome in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region, banning with immediate effect, the erection of any shrine on Mafi land unless that is done with the explicit consent of the Palace of the Awafiaga of the Mafi State.
The press conference, organized by the Palace of the Awafiaga of the Mafi State, formed part of the climax of a three-day cleansing and purification rites for Togbe Avakpe and the Avakpedome community, which were desecrated on 12th December, 2024, through the secret killing and burial of one Nelson Anyana, a native of Wusuta in the North Dayi District of the Volta Region, by some misguided youth of the community.
The Awafiaga of the Mafi Traditional Area, Togbe Awudza Adabla XV, who addressed the press, noted that the shameful act, which was later uncovered by the State’s investigations, not only soiled the name of the Mafi communities but also the Divine god of the people known as Togbe Avakpe. According to Awafiaga, the incident cast a dark shadow over the entire Avakpedome community, adding that such acts are an abomination, criminal, and inhumane and stand against the very values that define them as a people.
‘By these rites, we say, Never Again should any individual or group of persons bring such disgrace to our land, to our deity, and to our people. I warn with the authority of this stool, that anyone who dares repeat such an act, will know no peace in this life,’ the Awafiaga emphasized.
Togbe Awudza Adabla XV, who is also the Head Chief of the Gborta Clan of Mafi and Dufia of Mafi Avakpedome, called on Ghanaians and all people of goodwill to disabuse their minds of the recent tragedy and to once again engage with the chiefs and people of Mafi on issues of farming or agriculture, business, tourism, and the general development of the Mafi State. ‘Our communities are fertile, vibrant, and productive. We till the land, rear animals, and feed not only ourselves but also the nation at large. These are the values of Mafi, especially Mafi Avakpedome. Let us together restore the good name of Mafi Avakpedome, the Awafiaga intimated.
The Dufia and Awafia of Mafi Kumikpo, Togbe Agbozo Daku III, described the murder of the young man on Mafi land as a sacrilegious act committed by such misguided youth of the area. He pledged his support to the Awafiaga’s palace in ensuring that such miscreants are not only exposed to the police and other security agencies but also dealt with according to the laws of the country.
Togbe Ngorgbea XIII of Mafi Vodza, who led the purification rites for the three days, chaired the function. He advised the youth of the area to be wary of the negative infiltration of foreign cultural values into their communities. According to him, with the performance of the purification and cleansing rites, the power of Togbe Avakpe remains unshaken and his protection unbroken, adding that the deity would expose any youth engaged in any barbaric act against the land.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Stool Father of the Awafiaga, Zikpuitor Martin K. Gozah, lauded the chiefs and citizens of the area for their participation, support, and encouragement in carrying out the rites.
There was a heavy downpour as soon as the rites cum presser were over, a development the elders described as a positive sign and an indication that the rites had been successful and accepted by Togbe Avakpe, who is now cleansed and purified.
For centuries, Togbe Avakpe has been the protector and guide of the chiefs and people of Mafi Avakpedome. From the ancient land of Nortsie to their present home, the Togbe Avakpe deity led them with power and valor. He showed his strength in war, migration, and in justice. His very name echoes in their prayers and appellations: Tonguawo fe Avaworkpe, Eweawo fe Nortsu, Ebluawo fe Nortsu. Togbe Avakpe is called Okuhene, Odi Enam, a Yenua. He is a god of truth, of power, and of justice who slays kings, preserves nations, and stands as the shield of both Ewes and Akans.
History also has it that it was under the guidance of Togbe Avakpe that Avakpedome became the judicial and administrative heart of Mafi. In His sacred cave, the ancestors adjudicated disputes, preserved peace, and ensured justice. The presence of Avakpe was the anchor of law, order, and unity.
The event was graced by some elders of the community, including the Stool Secretary for the Awafiaga, Mr. Nelson Agorsor. There was a pouring of libation prayers earlier by the Fiator of the Awafiaga, Mr. Edwin Kpeli.
Mafi Avakpedome is located in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region, in eastern Ghana.
In December 2024, Nelson Anyana, a 28-year old man, was murdered in what was suspected a ritual killing. The victim was secretly buried by some youth of the community. Six were arrested, suspected of being involved in the criminal act.
On September 2025, cleansing and purification rites began, climaxing on October 2. The rites had become necessary to restore the sanctity of Togbe Avakpe, the revered sanctity of the community, and were led by Togbe Ngorgbea XIII of Mafi Vodka.
Togbe Awudza Adabla XV, the Avafiaba of the Mafi Traditional Area and Dufia of Mafi-Avakpedome emphasized during the ceremony that prosperity can only come through farming, fishing, craftsmanship, and perseverance – not bloodshed or ritual killings. (italics by webmaster FVDK)
Togbe Agbozo Daku III, the Dufia of Mafi Kumikpo, condemned the growing interest of some youth in ritual practices.
Zikpitor Martin Gezag, the Stool Father, appealed to community leaders to sensitize the youth on the dangers of ritual killings.
Unfortunately, ritual murder is a regularly recurring crime in the Volta Region.
Ghana’s Volta Region is one of the country’s sixteen administrative regions. Its capital is the city of Ho. It is located between Lake Volta in the west and the Republic of Togo in the east (see map below). (FVDK)
Purification rites performed to restore sanctity of revered deity in Mafi-Avakpedome
The victim is a 25-year-old mason, Nelson Anyena, who has been killed in what investigators describe as a ritual murder in Mafi Adidome, Central Tongu District. During an exhumation exercise at a fetish priest’s shrine on July 7, 2025, investigators reportedly discovered two additional unidentified bodies buried at the same location. However, according to other (non-confirmed) reports, police discovered three additional skeletons buried under other idols, as well as scattered body parts in nearby bushes.
In all, six suspects including the fetish priest were arrested.
The horrifying murder case has been widely covered in the media.
Ghana’s Volta Region is one of the country’s sixteen administrative regions. Its capital is the city of Ho. It is located between Lake Volta in the west and the Republic of Togo in the east. (FVDK)
Warning: The following articles contain graphic details which may upset readers (FVDK)
Lady lures man with romantic encounter only to kill him for rituals
Published: July 14, 2025 By: Armani Brooklyn – GhPage, Ghana
The Volta Regional Police Command has arrested six individuals linked to the murder of 25-year-old mason, Nelson Anyena, in what police describe as a suspected ritual killing.
The incident occurred in December 2024 after Anyena, who had moved from Wusuta to Mafi-Adidome to join his wife, was lured into a trap by Augustina Fiawoyife under the pretence of a romantic meeting.
He was later strangled by two men identified as Wisdom Hedidor and Courage Bedzo.
His body was allegedly sold to a fetish priest for GH¢7,000.
The suspects arrested include:
Augustina Fiawoyife
Wisdom Hedidor
Courage Bedzo
Noah Gblor (fetish priest)
Yohannes Gblor (security guard)
John Gblor (lotto writer)
The breakthrough came following police investigations, leading to the exhumation of Anyena’s body at Noah Gblor’s shrine on July 7, 2025. Two other unidentified bodies were also found at the site.
All six suspects are currently in police custody and have been remanded. They are expected to reappear in court on August 8, 2025.
Police have transported the recovered bodies to the Police Hospital Mortuary in Accra for autopsy and DNA analysis. Authorities say more arrests may follow as the investigation deepens.
The Volta Regional Police Command has assured the public, especially the bereaved family and residents of Adidome, that justice will be served.
Man lured by woman, 21, for romantic encounter and killed for ritual
Published: July 13, 2025 By: Peace FM Online – Ghana
The Volta Regional Police Command has arrested six individuals in connection with the gruesome murder of Nelson Anyena, a 25-year-old mason. The arrests took place in Blorkorfe and Awakpedome, both suburbs of Adidome in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region.
Police investigations revealed that the victim, who had moved from Wusuta to Mafi-Adidome in December 2024 to join his wife, was lured into a deadly trap involving a female accomplice and a fetish priest.
According to a police statement, the suspects include Augustina Fiawoyife, believed to have enticed the victim under the guise of a romantic encounter, as well as Wisdom Hedidor and Courage Bedzo, who allegedly carried out the killing.
The police have also identified the spiritual leader involved as Noah Gblor, a fetish priest, along with Yohannes Gblor, a security guard, and John Gblor, a lotto writer.
Preliminary findings indicate that on 4 December 2024, Fiawoyife lured Anyena to a remote location through a phone call. Once there, Hedidor and Bedzo reportedly strangled him and handed his body over to the fetish priest in exchange for GH¢7,000.
The crime came to light following detailed police investigations and the subsequent arrest of the suspects.
During an exhumation exercise at Noah Gblor’s shrine on 7 July 2025, investigators discovered two additional unidentified bodies buried at the same location.
Police confirmed the recovery of the bodies, which have been transported to the Police Hospital Mortuary in Accra for autopsy and DNA analysis.
All six suspects are currently in police custody and have been remanded. They are scheduled to reappear in court on 8 August 2025 as investigations continue. Authorities say further arrests are possible as they work to uncover the full extent of the criminal network behind the murder.
The Volta Regional Police Command praised the cooperation of the local community and appealed for calm among residents and the family of the deceased. The police assured the public that justice would be pursued rigorously in this alarming case.
The Volta Regional Police Command has arrested six individuals in connection with a suspected ritual killing of a 25-year-old mason, Nelson Anyena, at Mafi Adidome in the Central Tongu District of the Volta region.
According to a statement signed by Chief Inspector Francis Kwaku Gomado, Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the Volta Regional Police Command, the deceased had relocated from his hometown, Wusuta in the South Dayi District, to live with his wife at Mafi Adidome in December 2024.
Following weeks of covert investigations and collaboration with local residents, the police apprehended the first three suspects on 26th June 2025.
They include 21-year-old Augustina Fiawoyife, an unemployed woman; 31-year-old herbalist Wisdom Hedidor; and Courage Bedzo, also known as Dzidefo, a 31-year-old Kente weaver.
Further investigations led to the arrest of three additional suspects: Gblor Noah, also known as Ekpedzi, a 42-year-old fetish priest; his brother Yohannes Gblor, aged 27 and employed as a security guard; and John Gblor, aged 40, a lotto writer.
The three were arrested at Mafi Awakpedome.
Preliminary findings indicate that on 4th December 2024, Augustina, acting on instructions from her boyfriend, Wisdom Hedidor, lured Nelson Anyena to a secluded location under the pretext of a romantic meeting.
There, Hedidor and Courage Bedzo allegedly ambushed and strangled him (the deceased).
Investigators believe the suspects carried out the killing on behalf of fetish priest Gblor Noah, who had earlier approached them requesting a human body for ritual purposes in exchange for a fee.
After the act, Noah and his brothers allegedly paid GH¢7,000 to the two attackers and transported the body to a shrine at Blorkope.
On 3rd July 2025, police secured an exhumation order from the Ho Magistrate Court and, on 7 July, retrieved the victim’s body from beneath Noah Gblor’s shrine.
The exercise, led by Volta Regional Crime Officer Superintendent Mr Omari Mic Boakye and supported by Environmental Health Officers from the Ho Municipality, also uncovered two additional unidentified bodies buried at the site.
The remains have been transferred to the Police Hospital Mortuary in Accra for preservation, autopsy, and DNA profiling.
All six suspects are currently in police and prison custody and are expected to appear in court on 8th August 2025.
The Volta Regional Police Command has expressed appreciation for the public’s cooperation and has called on the family and community members to remain calm as investigations proceed.
Ritual murder: Six arrested over death of 25-year-old mason
Published: July 10, 2025 By: Caroaryee – MyNewsGh.com
A 25-year-old mason, Nelson Anyena, has been killed in what investigators describe as a ritual murder in Mafi Adidome, Central Tongu District.
His body was found buried beneath a shrine after weeks of investigation.
Nelson, who had recently moved from Wusuta to live with his wife in Mafi Adidome, was reportedly lured by a young woman, Augustina Fiawoyife, under the pretext of a private meeting.
According to police findings, she acted on instructions from her boyfriend, Wisdom Hedidor, a herbalist.
Together with Courage Bedzo, a kente weaver, they allegedly ambushed Nelson and strangled him to death.
Investigations revealed that the act was carried out for a fetish priest, Gblor Noah, who had promised payment in return for a human body to use for rituals.
After the killing, the priest and his brothers allegedly paid GH¢7,000 and moved the body to a shrine located at Blorkope.
Three suspects—Fiawoyife, Hedidor, and Bedzo—were arrested on June 26, 2025.
This led to further arrests: 42-year-old fetish priest Noah Gblor, his 27-year-old brother Yohannes Gblor, and 40-year-old John Gblor, a lotto writer.
On July 3, the police secured a court order to exhume the body.
During the operation on July 4, not only was Nelson’s body recovered, but two additional unidentified bodies were also discovered buried at the same location.
All the remains have been transferred to the Police Hospital in Accra for autopsy and DNA analysis.
The suspects remain in custody and are expected to reappear in court on August 8, 2025. The police have called for public calm as investigations continue.
The Central Tongu MP, Alexander Roosevelt Hotordze, and Dodzi Addison Mornyuie, the District Chief Executive, have condemned the discovery of human remains at a shrine in Mafi Gblorkope.
They described the incident as a “barbaric and inhumane act” that has shaken the conscience of the entire enclave.
They made the remarks during a visit to the crime scene on Tuesday, July 8, following a police-led operation that triggered the exhumation of multiple human remains, including the skeletal body of a 28-year-old Nelson Anyana believed to have been murdered for ritual purposes.
Mr Hotordze disclosed to the Ghana News Agency that such acts had no place in the society, and assured the people of Central Tongu that his office in collaboration with the district assembly would not rest until every person involved in the heinous crime was identified, apprehended, and made to face the full rigours of the law.
“This is a horrifying and deeply troubling development,” he added.
He emphasised that justice must be delivered swiftly, not only to honour the memory of the victims but also to restore a sense of security among residents.
“I have tasked the security services to deepen their investigations and act decisively. This is not just about one life lost; it is about safeguarding the moral fabric and peace of our community,” he said.
The MP urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with security personnel, noting that the ongoing investigations were being treated with the utmost seriousness.
Mr. Addison Dodzi Mornyuie also condemned the incident, describing it as “a stain on the conscience of the district” and a clear affront to human dignity and the rule of law.
He called on traditional leaders and local residents to remain vigilant and proactive in reporting suspicious activities, stressing that such heinous acts often thrived in silence and secrecy.
“We must build a community where no one is afraid to speak up and where evil is not allowed to hide under cultural or religious cover,” the DCE stated.
Mr. Mornyuie further assured the public of the Assembly’s full collaboration with the security agencies to bring all perpetrators to justice.
He reiterated that no one would be spared, regardless of social status or influence, and that the Assembly would intensify its community engagement and sensitisation efforts to prevent a recurrence.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service and the National Intelligence Bureau had confirmed to the GNA that three other suspects were in custody.
They said forensic investigations were underway to identify the additional remains and determine the full scale of the crimes committed.
Authorities have encouraged members of the public to volunteer any relevant information that may assist in the ongoing probe.
The suspects. INSET: One of the suspects with human bones
Published: July 10, 2025 By: Daniel K. Orlando, Ho – Daily Guide Network
A suspected ritual killing syndicate has been busted by the Ghana Police Service following the discovery of several human remains at a shrine in Gblorkope, Central Tongu District in the Volta Region.
The breakthrough came after months of investigations triggered by a missing person’s report filed on December 17, 2024, by Madam Comfort Hatse, a trader from Donkorkrom in the Eastern Region.
She reported that her son, Nelson Anyana, 28, had left home on December 4, 2024, to meet one Augustina Fiawoyife at Mafi-Adidome and never returned.
Detectives later uncovered a gruesome conspiracy involving Fiawoyife, who was romantically involved with a herbalist, Wisdom Hedidor. The police say Hedidor, consumed by jealousy over Fiawoyife’s continued contact with Nelson, allegedly plotted to murder him for ritual purposes.
Investigations revealed that a local fetish priest, Gblor Noah, popularly known as Ekpedzi, had earlier requested a human body for ritual rites, promising a GH¢7,000 payment. Courage Bedzo, a kente weaver, reportedly relayed this request to Hedidor, who agreed to carry out the act.
On December 12, 2024, Fiawoyife allegedly lured Nelson to a secluded location near the DC Bungalow area in Adidome. While engaging him in conversation, Hedidor and Bedzo emerged and strangled him to death. Fiawoyife reportedly watched the killing without raising any alarm.
The body was subsequently sold to the fetish priest, who was accompanied by his brother, Gblor Yohannes, a lotto writer. The remains were transported to the Gblorkope shrine and buried beneath an idol after performing rituals.
Upon arrest and interrogation, the suspects led investigators to the shrine where Nelson’s remains were exhumed. Police also discovered three additional skeletons buried under other idols, as well as scattered body parts in nearby bushes, raising suspicions of serial killings.
Six suspects have since been arrested. They include Augustina Fiawoyife, unemployed, Wisdom Hedidor, herbalist, Courage Bedzo, kente weaver, Gblor Noah alias Ekpedzi, fetish priest, Gblor John, security guard, and Gblor Yohannes, lotto writer.
All six are residents of Mafi-Adidome and reportedly related to the operators of the shrine.
The suspects were arraigned before the Ho District Court 1 on July 2, 2025, presided over by His Worship Albert Annor Owusu. Prosecutor, Detective Sergeant Kwadwo Otibu-Gyan, informed the court that investigations are still underway, particularly efforts to identify and exhume all remains linked to the case.
The court did not take the suspects’ pleas and remanded them into prison custody to reappear on August 6, 2025.
The disturbing revelations have sent shockwaves through the Volta Region, with residents demanding swift justice and a clampdown on ritual activities in the area.
The Ghana Police Service has assured the public of its resolve to fully pursue the case and bring all perpetrators to book. Authorities are also appealing to the public for information that could aid ongoing investigations.
Forensic experts are currently working to identify the additional victims, as police probe the possibility of more bodies linked to the shrine.
Six nabbed over alleged ritual murder at Mafi Adidome
Published: July 10, 2025 By: Adom Online
The Volta Regional Police Command has arrested six individuals in connection with the suspected ritual killing of a 25-year-old mason, Nelson Anyena, at Mafi Adidome in the Central Tongu District.
According to police, three suspects were initially arrested on June 26, 2025, following weeks of covert investigations and collaboration with residents.
The suspects are 21-year-old unemployed woman Augustina Fiawoyife; 31-year-old herbalist Wisdom Hedidor; and 31-year-old Kente weaver Courage Bedzo, also known as Dzidefo.
Further investigations led to the arrest of three additional suspects: – Gblor Noah, also known as Ekpedzi, a 42-year-old fetish priest – Yohannes Gblor, a 27-year-old security guard and brother of Noah – John Gblor, a 40-year-old lotto writer at Mafi Awakpedome.
A statement signed by the Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the Regional Command, Chief Inspector Francis Kwaku Gomado, revealed that the deceased relocated from Wusuta in the South Dayi District to live with his wife at Mafi Adidome in December 2024.
On December 4, 2024, Augustina, acting on instructions from her boyfriend, Wisdom Hedidor, allegedly lured Nelson Anyena to a secluded location under the pretext of a romantic meeting.
There, Hedidor and Courage Bedzo reportedly ambushed and strangled him to death—an act police investigators believe was carried out on behalf of fetish priest Gblor Noah, who had earlier requested a human body for ritual purposes in exchange for a fee.
After the killing, Noah and his brothers allegedly paid GH¢7,000 to the attackers and transported Nelson’s body to a shrine at Blorkope.
On July 3, 2025, police secured an order from the Ho Magistrate Court and, the following day, exhumed Nelson’s body from beneath Noah Gblor’s shrine.
The exercise, led by Volta Regional Crime Officer Superintendent Omari Mic Boakye and supported by Environmental Health Officers from the Ho Municipality, also uncovered two additional unidentified bodies buried at the site.
All the remains have been transferred to the Police Hospital Mortuary in Accra for preservation, autopsy, and DNA profiling.
The suspects are currently in police and prison custody and are expected to reappear in court on August 8, 2025.
Meanwhile, the Volta Regional Police Command has expressed appreciation for the public’s cooperation and has called on the family and community members to remain calm as investigations continue.
Six arrested over ritual killing of 23-year-old in Mafi-Adidome; body exhumed by police
Published: July 9, 2025 By: Abigail Teye – Asaseeradio Ghana
The deceased, a resident of Mafi-Adidome, was reported missing on 17 December 2024 by his mother, Madam Comfort Hates, after he left home on 4 December to meet a woman identified as Augustina Fiawoyife but never returned.
Six individuals have been arrested in connection with the brutal killing of 23-year-old Nelson Anyana at Mafi-Adidome in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region, in what police describe as a premeditated ritual murder.
The deceased, a resident of Mafi-Adidome, was reported missing on 17 December 2024 by his mother, Comfort Hates, after he left home on 4 December to meet a woman identified as Augustina Fiawoyife but never returned.
Police investigations revealed that Fiawoyife lured Nelson to a secluded area under the pretext of a meeting. She was allegedly acting on instructions from her boyfriend, an herbalist named Wisdom Hedidor, who suspected frequent phone calls between Nelson and Fiawoyife.
Further details uncovered a chilling plot involving a fetish priest, Gblor Noah, who had approached a kente weaver, Courage Bedzo, requesting a human body for ritual purposes in exchange for a reward. Bedzo reportedly relayed the request to Hedidor, who then targeted Nelson as the victim.
On 4 December 2024, Fiawoyife led Nelson to a bushy area near the DC Bungalow at Mafi-Adidome, where Hedidor and Bedzo were hiding. As Nelson engaged in conversation with Fiawoyife, the two men emerged and strangled him.
After the killing, the group contacted Gblor Noah, who arrived at the scene with another accomplice, Gblor John, a lotto writer. The body was transported to Gblorkope in Central Tongu, where ritual rites were allegedly performed. The remaining body parts were then buried in a nearby bush.
The suspects—Fiawoyife, Hedidor, Bedzo, Gblor Noah, and Gblor John—were subsequently arrested. Police say the body was allegedly sold for GHC 7,000 for the ritual.
On 2 July 2025, the case was called at the Ho District Court 1, presided over by His Worship Albert Annor Owusu. All suspects appeared without legal representation. Prosecuting, Detective Sergeant Kwadwo Otibu-Gyan told the court investigations were ongoing, especially efforts to locate and exhume the remaining body parts.
The exhumation was carried out on 7 July 2025, with re-interment expected.
The suspects’ pleas were not taken, and they were remanded into prison custody to reappear on 6 August 2025.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the Central Tongu District, with residents calling for swift justice and stronger action against ritual-related crimes. Police investigations are ongoing.
Reporting by Solomon Mensah-Ahiable for Asaase News in the Volta Region
The Homicide Unit of the Ghana Police Service has made a major breakthrough in a suspected ritual murder case involving the disappearance of 28-year-old Nelson Anyana.
An intensive investigation led to the discovery and exhumation of multiple human remains buried within a shrine at Gblorkope, located in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region.
This operation follows a report filed by Comfort Hatse, the mother of the deceased, who informed police that her son had gone missing on December 4, 2024, after leaving home to meet a woman named Augustina Fiawoyife. He was officially declared missing on December 17.
Working with three key suspects, homicide detectives from the Volta Regional Police Command searched a property believed to be used for ritualistic practices.
The team exhumed Nelson Anyana’s body, buried beneath idols at the Gblorkope shrine, confirming suspicions of ritual murder.
The police further uncovered three additional human skeletal remains buried under separate idols at the same location.
Additional human body parts, believed to belong to other victims, were also discovered buried in surrounding bushes, raising fears that the site may have been a hub for serial ritual killings.
Six individuals have since been arrested and arraigned in connection with the murder.
The suspects include:
Augustina Fiawoyife, unemployed
Wisdom Hedidor, herbalist
Courage Bedzo, kente weaver
Gblor Noah, alias Ekpedzi, 37, fetish priest
Gblor John, 38, security guard
Gblor Johannes, 27, lotto writer
The last three, all brothers, are believed to operate the Gblorkope shrine.
According to the police, the murder was orchestrated by Wisdom Hedidor, who had reportedly grown jealous of the deceased’s relationship with Augustina, his romantic partner.
Investigations reveal that around the same period, fetish priest Gblor Noah allegedly requested a human body for ritual purposes in exchange for payment.
Courage Bedzo is said to have relayed the request to Hedidor, who agreed to carry out the killing.
On December 12, 2024, Augustina lured Nelson Anyana to a quiet area in Adidome, where Hedidor and Bedzo ambushed and strangled him, allegedly in the presence of Augustina.
The body was later purchased by the fetish priest and his associate, Gblor Johannes, for GH¢7,000. It was transported to the shrine at Gblorkope, used in ritual practices, and buried under one of the idols.
Following the operation, all six suspects were arraigned before the Ho District Court. They face charges of abetment of crime, to wit, murder, and conspiracy to commit crime, to wit, murder.
Police say forensic analysis is underway to identify the other human remains recovered and to determine if more suspects should be charged.
The shocking discovery has triggered public outrage and fear among residents of the Central Tongu District, with many demanding swift justice and a broader crackdown on suspected ritual networks in the region.
The Ghana Police Service has assured the public of its commitment to fully investigate the case and bring all perpetrators to justice.
Police exhume multiple human remains in Central Tongu shrine
Published: July 9, 2025 By: Adomon Online, From: GNA
The Homicide Unit of the Ghana Police Service has undertaken an operation that uncovered and exhumed multiple human remains buried in a shrine at Gblorkope in the Central Tongu District.
This follows a suspected ritual murder and the disappearance of 28-year-old Nelson Anyana.
The homicide investigation marked a breakthrough in the alleged murder of Nelson, resulting in the discovery of multiple human bones, some buried beneath idols in the shrine.
Six individuals have been arrested and arraigned in connection with the alleged murder of Nelson, who had earlier been declared missing.
The breakthrough came after police detectives from the Homicide Unit in Ho, accompanied by three key suspects, conducted a search of a property believed to have been used for ritual purposes.
The body of Nelson Anyana, who had been missing since December 2024, was exhumed from the Gblorkope shrine, confirming police suspicions of ritual murder.
During the search, police discovered three additional skeletal remains buried beneath different idols at the same location. Assorted human body parts believed to belong to other victims were also found buried in nearby bushes, intensifying suspicions that the site may have been used for serial ritual killings.
The suspects, all residents of Mafi Adidome, are Augustina Fiawoyife, unemployed; Wisdom Hedidor, an herbalist; and Courage Bedzo, a kente weaver.
The others are Gblor Noah, also known as Ekpedzi, a fetish priest aged 37; Gblor John, a 38-year-old security guard; and Gblor Johannes, a 27-year-old lotto writer. The last three, who are siblings, are reported to be operators of the Gblorkope shrine.
According to police investigations, the case began when Comfort Hatse, a trader from Donkorkrom and mother of the deceased, reported him missing on December 17, 2024.
She stated that the deceased had left home on December 4 to meet the first suspect, Augustina Fiawoyife, and never returned.
It was later discovered that Augustina was in a relationship with the second suspect, Wisdom Hedidor, who had grown jealous over her ongoing relationship with the deceased. He allegedly hatched a plan to kill him, which was executed accordingly.
Around that time, the fourth suspect, Gblor Noah, had reportedly solicited a human body for ritual purposes in exchange for a substantial payment.
The third suspect, Courage Bedzo, relayed this request to Hedidor, who agreed to carry out the murder.
On December 12, 2024, Augustina lured the deceased to a secluded area near DC Bungalow, a suburb of Adidome. While the victim engaged her in conversation, Hedidor and Bedzo ambushed and strangled him to death, with Augustina allegedly witnessing the act without intervening.
The third suspect subsequently contacted the fetish priest, who arrived at the scene with the sixth suspect, Gblor Johannes. They bought the deceased’s body for GH¢7,000 and transported it to the shrine at Gblorkope, where it was used in ritual ceremonies before being buried under idols.
Following the recovery of Nelson Anyana’s remains and those of other unidentified individuals, all six suspects were arraigned before a District Court in Ho. They have been charged with abetment of crime to wit murder and conspiracy to commit crime to wit murder.
Police investigators say further forensic analysis is underway based on the new discoveries to determine the identities of the additional victims and file appropriate charges against the suspects.
The discovery has sparked outrage and fear among residents of the Central Tongu District, with many calling for swift justice and a broader investigation into possible ritualistic networks in the region.
The Ghana Police Service has reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing the case thoroughly and ensuring all perpetrators face the full rigours of the law.
Central Tongu: HumanRemains Exhumed From Shrines in Gblorkope
Published: July 9, 2025 By: Peter Atsu ,reviewed by Samuel Gitonga, Yen – Ghana
A quiet Volta village has been rocked by a chilling case of suspected ritual killing after the discovery of human remains
Three brothers, known in the community, are accused of using human remains in shrines
The suspects include a priest, a lottery ticket retailer and a security guard, all linked to a missing young man
A worrying discovery has rocked the quiet village of Gblorkope in the Adidome North electoral area of the Central Tongu District, where police officers in the Volta Regional Police Command have exhumed human remains from shrines.
The remains are allegedly those of individuals murdered and used in ritualistic practices.
Gblorkope rocked by grief as police discover human remains in a shrine. Photo credit: UGC Source: Getty Images
The operation involved three of the six suspects leading authorities to the sites where the remains were found. According to Prosper Ayikpa, the Assembly Member for the area, the remains, including four human skulls, were recovered from two shrines.
“The remains were exhumed from two shrines. The remains were actually used as the foundation upon which deities were moulded in the shrines. In all, four human skulls were exhumed from three shrines with other human parts,” he told YEN.com.gh in an interview, painting a grim picture of the ritualistic practices involved.
Ayikpa expressed his dismay over the incident, confirming that he personally knew the three suspects, who all share the same father. “The suspects are six, but the three that the police came with are indigenes of my electoral area,” Ayikpa stated, adding that “…they are well-known people in the area. They even campaigned for me to become an Assembly Member, so I know them well,” he said.
He also disclosed the professions of the three suspects: “John Gblor is a lotto writer, his brother Yohanes Gblor works as a security guard, and Noah Gblor is the main traditional priest who runs the shrines with the help of his brothers. They all share the same father. They are brothers,” he said.
How Nelson Anyana’s body was found
According to sources close to the investigations, on December 17, 2024, Comfort Hates, a trader residing in Donkorkrom in the Eastern Region, reported to the Adidome Police that her 28-year-old son, Nelson Anyana, had gone missing after leaving home three days earlier to meet one Augustina Fiawoyife.
The Adidome Police Command launched an investigation and arrested Augustina Fiawoyife.
Information disclosed to a local radio station in the Central Tongu Constituency showed that Augustina was the girlfriend of Wisdom Hedidor, a herbalist with whom she lived in Avakpadome, a suburb of Adidome.
Hedidor reportedly became suspicious and warned his girlfriend to stop receiving calls from Nelson, who frequently contacted her. Around the same time, Gblor Noah, the priest, allegedly approached his friend Courage Bedzo, a Kente weaver also residing in Avakpadome, requesting a dead body for ritual purposes in exchange for a ransom.
Courage Bedzo then ostensibly relayed this request to Wisdom Hedidor, who agreed to the plan. Both men allegedly conspired to kill Nelson Anyana, the man who often called Augustina. Investigations allegedly showed that Hedidor convinced his girlfriend to lure Nelson to a secluded location, where he would be killed and offered to the priest for money rituals.
Augustina, Nelson meet at an isolated spot On Wednesday, 4 December 2024, at approximately 7:30 PM, Augustina reportedly instructed Nelson to meet her at an isolated spot near a bungalow.
Unaware of the purported plan, Nelson arrived and began speaking with her.
Moments later, Hedidor and Bedzo emerged from a nearby bush and allegedly strangled Nelson to death.
After the suspected murder, Courage Bedzo allegedly contacted Gblor Noah to inform him that the body was ready.
Gblor Noah, accompanied by his brother John, the lotto writer, reportedly arrived and transported Nelson’s lifeless body to their house in Gblorkope.
Parts of the body were allegedly used in rituals within the shrine, and the remaining human parts were buried in a nearby bush.
Efforts to speak with the Volta Regional Police Crime Officer on the matter have so far been unsuccessful.
The homicide unit of the Ghana Police Service has undertaken an operation, uncovered and exhumed multiple human remains buried in a shrine at Gblorkope in Central Tongu District.
This followed a suspected ritual murder and disappearance of 28-year-old Nelson Anyana.
The homicide investigation is a breakthrough in the alleged murder of Nelson resulting in the discovery of multiple human bones, some buried under idols in the shrine.
Six individuals have been arrested and arraigned in connection with the alleged murder of Nelson, after being declared missing.
The breakthrough came after Police Detectives from the Homicide Unit in Ho, in the company of three key suspects, conducted a search of a property believed to be used for ritual purposes.
The body of Nelson Anyana, who had been missing since December 2024, was exhumed from a Gblorkope shrine satisfying Police suspicion of ritual murder.
The Police, in their search, discovered three additional skeletal remains buried beneath different idols at the same location, as assorted human body parts believed to belong to other victims were found buried in nearby bushes, intensifying suspicions that the site may have been used for serial ritual killings.
The suspects, all residents of Mafi Adidome, are Augustina Fiawoyife, unemployed; Wisdom Hedidor, an herbalist; and Courage Bedzo, a kente weaver.
Others are Gblor Noah, also known as Ekpedzi, a fetish priest, 37; Gblor John, a security guard, 38; and Gblor Johannes, a lotto writer, 27 (all siblings) and operators of the Gblorkope shrine.
According to Police investigations, the case began when Comfort Hatse, a trader from Donkorkrom and mother of the deceased, reported her missing on December 17, 2024.
She stated that the deceased had left home on December 4 to meet the first suspect, Augustina Fiawoyife, and never returned.
It was later discovered that Augustina was in a relationship with the second suspect, Wisdom Hedidor, who had grown jealous over his ongoing relationship with the deceased and hatched the scheme to kill him, which was executed according to plan.
Around that time, the fourth suspect, Gblor Noah, reportedly earlier solicited a human body for ritual purposes in exchange for a substantial payment.
The third suspect, Courage Bedzo, relayed this request to Hedidor, who then agreed to carry out the murder.
On December 12, 2024, Augustina lured the deceased to a secluded area near DC Bungalow, a suburb of Adidome, while the victim engaged her in conversation, Hedidor and Bedzo ambushed and strangled him to death, with Augustina allegedly witnessing the act without intervening.
The third suspect subsequently contacted the fetish priest, who arrived at the scene with the sixth suspect, Gblor Yohannes and bought the deceased’s body for GH¢7,000, which was transported to the shrine in Gblorkope, where it was used in ritual ceremonies before being buried under the idols.
Following the recovery of Nelson Anyana’s remains and those of other unidentified individuals, all six suspects had earlier appeared before a District Court in Ho, charged with abetment of crime to wit murder and conspiracy to commit crime to wit murder.
Police investigators say further forensic analysis was underway based on the new discoveries to determine the identities of the additional victims and appropriate charges for the suspects.
The discovery has sparked outrage and fear among residents of the Central Tongu District, with many calling for swift justice and a broader investigation into possible ritualistic networks in the region.
The Ghana Police Service has reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing the case thoroughly and ensuring all perpetrators face the full rigours of the law.
The following links to articles from various sources (GhanaWeb, Modern Ghana) provide more information on this spectacular and revolting ritual murder case.
Source: The Homicide Unit of the Ghana Police Service has achieved a significant breakthrough with the discovery and exhumation of multiple human remains at a shrine in Gblorkope, Central Tongu District, Volta Region. The operation was launched following the suspected ritual murder of 28-year old Nelson Ayana, who went missing in December 2024. Source: GhanaWeb
There are not many in-depth studies of the phenomenon of ritual murders and even less of the killing of children for ritualistic purposes. The article below discusses the ritual murder of children in Ghana and Kenya, examines who the perpetrators are and why they came to their crime.
The study by Emmanuel Sarpong Owusu is a must read. The author is to be commended for a serious and interesting study.
Interestingly, a number of the author’s findings and conclusions – based on online news reports in eight media outlets in Ghana and Kenya and on interviews with 28 experts – are consistent with my experiences after years of studying ritual killings in Sub-Saharan Africa. In particular I wish to mention here the main factors driving the motivation of the majority of the ritual murderers: superstition, greed and illiteracy, whereas the for various reasons failing reaction of authorities and the resulting lack of rule of law facilitate the impunity and the continuity of the cruel and outdated phenomenon.
According to the study, in Ghana, the media reported at least 160 ritual murders between 2012 and 2021. Of this number, 94 (about 58.8%) were children. Of the 102 ritual murders in Kenya in the study period (2012-2021), 66 (64.7%) were children.
I refer to the study below for more details. Please note that, unfortunately, three links in the original article seem to be incorrect: (i) ‘juju in Ghana’ leads to general information on juju (link should be placed under ‘juju’); (ii) ‘juju in Kenya’ leads to nowhere; (iii) reference to members of occult sects leads to ‘juju in Kenya’. (webmaster FVDK).
Ritual murder of children: study in Ghana and Kenya explores who’s doing it and why
Published: April 15, 2025 By: Emmanuel Sarpong Owusu – The Conversation, UK
Superstition, an irrational belief in paranormal influences or a false attribution of events, is an age-old phenomenon found in probably all human societies or cultures. It encompasses a wide range of beliefs, practices and behaviours. Some of these have harmful or even deadly consequences.
In many African communities, there are widespread beliefs relating to the use of human body parts for traditional healing rituals. Human body parts and blood are said to enhance the potency of traditional medicines and rituals that supposedly guarantee wealth, business success, fertility, protection and longevity, among others.
Ritual killings, including those of children, are reported regularly around Africa. A case in point is the targeting of children with albinism for ritual purposes in Tanzania. One research report says one in five people in Mozambique and one in four people in South Africa believe that rituals and traditional medicines made with human body parts are more potent and effective than those using nonhuman objects.
Children are particularly targeted for killing because they can’t repel attacks, and because of beliefs about the potency of their body parts. The victims in more than half of all the ritual murders reported in Ghana and Kenya in 2022 were children.
I am a legal scholar with years of research on superstition-driven crimes against vulnerable groups in African settings and the criminal justice response to such crimes. In a recent study I explored the magnitude, characteristics and motivations, as well as the socio-cultural and economic contexts, of ritual child murder in Ghana and Kenya. My study was carried out through in-depth analysis of news reports of ritual murders for a period of 10 years, coupled with semi-structured interviews with academics and other experts.
I found that the major factors contributing to the persistence of ritual child murders were superstition, economic hardship, illiteracy and inefficient criminal justice systems. A new consumerist ethos also plays a role: wanting a life of luxury and the admiration that comes with it.
The study seeks to enhance awareness of the ritual child murder phenomenon and encourage support for the enforcement of child rights protection laws. When policymakers know more about the scale and circumstances of ritual child murders, they are better equipped to act on it.
Ritual murders in Ghana and Kenya
Belief in juju is widespread in Ghana and Kenya. This is the belief that people can mystically control events by using incantations (“magic words”) and, sometimes, objects.
My study analysed data drawn from online news reports in eight media outlets in Ghana and Kenya. I used media content because the countries don’t have national data sets on ritual homicide, and empirical research is limited. Secondly, I interviewed 28 experts in criminology and criminal justice, sociology, African religions, and child and family welfare and social protection. These participants were selected using the purposeful sampling technique.
In Ghana, the media reported at least 160 ritual murders between 2012 and 2021. Of this number, 94 (about 58.8%) were children. This suggests that an average of 9.4 children fall victim to ritual murder each year in the country. Of the 102 ritual murders in Kenya in the study period, 66 (64.7%) were children. This represents an annual average of 6.6 in the country.
In both countries, most victims (over 80%) tend to be drawn from families of low socio-economic backgrounds in rural and semi-rural communities. In Kenya, children with albinism are also targeted.
The overwhelming majority of offenders are males. There are three main categories of perpetrators of ritual child murders:
the juju practitioner or traditional healer who usually prescribes the required body parts and effects the medicine or ritual
the client who consults traditional healers and stands to benefit directly from the ritual or medicine
the (hired) ritual murderer, who abducts the victim and extracts the required body parts.
Data from media reports show that most of the perpetrators apprehended are those directly involved in the killing. They are usually aged between 20 and 39 years and of low socio-economic status in rural communities. However, some interviewees insisted that some rich and prominent persons are also involved.
In Ghana, uncles, fathers and stepfathers were the dominant perpetrators in cases where victims and perpetrators were known to be related. Unlike other types of homicide, ritual child murder generally involves strangers nearly as often as it involves family members and acquaintances.
Motivations and responses
The dominant motivation for ritual murder is financial gain. This conclusion is drawn from the media accounts and the interviews. Perpetrators are promised money in exchange for specific human body parts. Others kill to use the body parts for rituals that are supposed to ensure a long life, fertility, business growth, or protection against evil. In Kenya, some perpetrators kill in fulfillment of their obligations as members of occult sects.
Other factors that sustain the practice – based on media reports and interviews – are superstition, unemployment and economic hardship. Adding to these are illiteracy, which fosters unfounded beliefs, and an inefficient criminal justice system, which enables these crimes to thrive.
Poor parental supervision is an important risk factor for ritual child murder. In both countries, over 70% of the ritual murder victims were under 10 years old. They were abducted or murdered while going to or returning home from school. Others were abducted while running errands such as fetching water from a stream unaccompanied. Some may have been playing outside their homes unsupervised, or running errands by themselves for relatives.
In both countries, the criminal justice system’s response is evidently ineffective. In Kenya, over 90% of perpetrators are not apprehended. Of 68 suspects arrested in Ghana, only four convictions were reported. Crime scenes are poorly managed and preserved by police officers and detectives in both countries.
Crime scene videos show the victims’ remains being removed by authorities and conveyed to the morgue without diligent forensic examination of the body and the crime scene for evidence.
What governments can do
The belief in the power of juju and associated rituals and medicines cannot be wished away. It can only be combated in various ways:
bringing the activities of traditional healers and occult-related sects under closer scrutiny
promoting education and awareness, emphasising the need for supervision of children
Ritual murder of children: Study in Ghana and Kenya explores who’s doing it and why
Volunteers assist forensic experts and homicide detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), to exhume bodies of suspected followers of a Christian cult named as Good News International Church, whose members believed they would go to heaven if they starved themselves to death, in Shakahola forest of Kilifi county, Kenya April 25, 2023. (PHOTO/ REUTERS)
Published: April 18, 2025 By: The Eastleigh Voice, Kenya
The dark side of superstition and the reality of ritual child murder
Published: around April 20, 2025 By: IOL, Sunday Tribune – South Africa
EMMANUEL SARPONG OWUSU, A DOCTORAL RESEARCHER AND LECTURER AT ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY IN WALES, WRITES ABOUT SUPERSTITION-DRIVEN CRIMES AGAINST VULNERABLE GROUPS IN AFRICAN SETTINGS.
Belief in witchcraft is widespread on the African continent. Amnesty International recently released a report highlighting the situation in Ghana, in particular in the northern part of the country, but accusations of witchcraft and attacks on persons accused of being witches, in particular elder women, are – I dare say – common in many African communities, in rural areas as well as urban centers. See my previous posts on the subject.
Authorities often fail to react adequately on these human rights violations. It is not rare that even those occupying responsible positions in society also belief in witchcraft, joining violators in stead of protecting vulnerable victims.
As Amnesty International emphasizes in its report, root causes must be addressed. Genevieve Partington, Country Director Amnesty International Ghana pleads for an active role of governments in combatting this evil:
“The government should establish a properly resourced long-term national awareness campaign challenging cultural and social practices that discriminate against women and older people, including witchcraft accusations.”
Witchcraft accusations putting hundreds at risk of “physical attacks or even death” in Ghana, Amnesty says
Published: April 14, 2025 By: CBS BNews (CBS/AFP)
Hundreds of people suspected of witchcraft in Ghana, especially older women, face rampant human rights abuses including murder, Amnesty International said Monday, asking the government to criminalize accusations and ritual attacks.
In 2023, the Ghanaian parliament passed a bill making it a criminal offense to declare, accuse, name or label someone as a witch but the bill is yet to be signed into law.
“The accusations, which can lead to threats, physical attacks or even death, usually start within the family or among community members following a tragic event such as an illness or a death,” Amnesty said.
“Older women living in poverty, with health conditions or disabilities are at greater risk, as well as women who do not conform to stereotypical gender roles. In some cases, accusers even base their claims on having had a bad dream about a person,” it added.
The majority of victims are “marginalized individuals, particularly older women,” in areas in the country’s northern and northeastern regions, the report said.
Belief in witchcraft remains common in many rural communities along the west African coast, including Ghana, and elsewhere in the continent. Earlier this year, two men in Zambia were charged with practicing witchcraft and possessing charms intended to harm the country’s president.
People accused of witchcraft are usually banished from their home areas and in Ghana they seek refuge in camps run by traditional priests “where they remain until they die or a family member or another community accepts them,” the rights monitor said.
Amnesty said Ghana had not done enough to protect victims, stressing the need for a sensitization campaign in vulnerable areas.
It also said the government had failed to “ensure access to adequate food, safe housing and clean water” for people living in these camps.
“The authorities should pass legislation specifically criminalizing witchcraft accusations and ritual attacks, including protective measures for potential victims,” said Genevieve Partington, Amnesty’s country director in Ghana.
Partington is also a member of the Coalition Against Witchcraft Accusations, an association set up following the lynching of a 90-year-old woman in July 2020 in northern Ghana.
Similar attacks occur in other parts of Africa.
Eight women blamed for the death of two ailing boys in Guinea Bissau last year were forced to drink poison and died.
Also last year, two women in their sixties were publicly stoned and their bodies burnt in the Democratic Republic of Congo for allegedly causing the deaths of several people.
This is a reflection of how “we treat elderly people,” Leo Igwe, founder of Nigeria-based non-profit Advocacy for Alleged Witches, told AFP.
Samadu Sayibu of Ghana’s rights group Songtaba, said it also “highlighted issues such as gender and poverty.”
Belief in witchcraft is also common in some rural communities in Angola despite strong opposition from the church in the predominantly Catholic former Portuguese colony. Last year, police said about 50 people died in Angola after being forced to drink an herbal potion to prove they were not sorcerers.
Ghana: Hundreds accused of witchcraft urgently need protection and reparation
Published: April 14, 2025 By: Amnesty International
The Ghanaian authorities have failed to protect and fulfil the human rights of hundreds of victims of witchcraft accusations and ritual attacks that forced them to flee their communities fearing for their lives, said Amnesty International in a new report.
“Branded for life: How witchcraft accusations lead to human rights violations of hundreds of women in North Ghana”, documents the situation across four informal camps where accused people, primarily older women, are currently living with insufficient access to health services, food, safe housing, clean water and economic opportunities. At the time of Amnesty International’s visits in November 2023 and April 2024, more than 500 people were residing in the camps.
“Witchcraft accusations and related abuses infringe on a person’s right to life, to security, and to non-discrimination. This deeply rooted and prevalent practice has led to untold suffering and violence. While the belief in witchcraft is protected under international law, harmful practices that stem from the belief are not and those impacted need protection and reparation,” said Michèle Eken, Senior Researcher at Amnesty International.
“He doesn’t want me [in the community], that’s why he accused me”
The accusations, which can lead to threats, physical attacks or even death, usually start within the family or among community members following a tragic event such as an illness or a death. Older women living in poverty, with health conditions or disabilities are at greater risk, as well as women who do not conform to stereotypical gender roles.
In some cases, accusers even base their claims on having had a bad dream about a person.
They always have plans of putting allegations against you, especially if you are hardworking and are still strong and doing well as a woman.A resident of the Kukuo camp
“My neighbour said he dreamt […] that I was trying to kill him. He doesn’t want me [in the community], that’s why he accused me,” said Fawza*, resident of Gnani camp. “I refused for the [village] chief to marry any of my daughters. One day, a child got sick in the community and the chief accused me,” said Fatma*, resident of the Kukuo camp.
Another resident of the Kukuo camp about 60 years old, said: “They always have plans of putting allegations against you, especially if you are hardworking and are still strong and doing well as a woman.”
Authorities failing to ensure decent living conditions in camps
Women accused of witchcraft have no safe place to run to other than camps overseen by religious leaders in the northern and north-east regions of Ghana, which are now more than a century old.
Although the camps offer shelter, the living conditions are inadequate. Alimata* struggles with her accommodation: “I have my own room here, but it needs reroofing. Water comes down through the roof when it rains.” A resident of the Kukuo camp in her eighties, has not been able to support herself since she fled her village: “I miss a lot [from home]. I had everything. I was harvesting shea nuts. Now, if someone doesn’t feed me, how would I eat?”
The government has failed to ensure access to adequate food, safe housing and clean water in the camps. Health services are also inadequate for women who have serious or ongoing health conditions. Livelihood opportunities are limited and there is no governmental programme to support victims of witchcraft accusations.
“Because people in the camps are unable to provide for themselves, the authorities have a duty to protect and support them. But they have so far failed to do so,” said Marceau Sivieude, Amnesty International’s Interim Regional Director for West and Central Africa.
Witchcraft accusations and ritual attacks must be criminalized
The testimonies point to the state’s failure to establish an environment conducive to criminal investigations and prosecutions of witchcraft-related attacks. This, in turn, contributes to the recurrence of accusations and related abuses.
By not providing a specific legal framework to address this harmful practice, the Ghanaian authorities have failed in their duty to protect victims.
“The authorities should pass legislation specifically criminalizing witchcraft accusations and ritual attacks, including protective measures for potential victims,” said Genevieve Partington, Country Director of Amnesty International Ghana and member of the Coalition Against Witchcraft Accusations, an association set up following the lynching of a 90-year-old woman in July 2020.
Root causes must also be addressed
The belief in witchcraft is entrenched in several communities. Criminalizing witchcraft accusations alone would not resolve the issue. While some sensitization initiatives have been conducted by NGOs and at the local government level, they are not enough to comprehensively combat stereotypes linked to witchcraft accusations.
The government should establish a long-term national awareness campaign challenging cultural and social practices that discriminate against women and older people.Genevieve Partington, Country Director of Amnesty International Ghana
“We urge the adoption of a holistic approach that addresses the root causes of the abuses including social and economic reintegration programmes, along with protection and reparations to persons who suffered abuses due to an accusation,” said Genevieve Partington.
“The government should establish a properly resourced long-term national awareness campaign challenging cultural and social practices that discriminate against women and older people, including witchcraft accusations.”
Background
This report is based on research conducted between July 2023 and January 2025. The organization interviewed 93 people accused of witchcraft living in four camps, including 82 women, most of them aged 50 to 90.
As part of Amnesty International’s campaign, discussions were held in early February 2025 with the Office of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection. They expressed interest in the reintroduction in parliament of the private members bill to criminalize witchcraft accusations and to protect victims of witchcraft accusations. The bill was reintroduced shortly afterwards.
Amnesty International shared the preliminary findings of this report on 26 February 2025 with the authorities. At the time of finalizing the report, no responses had been received.
Hundreds facing witchcraft accusations in Ghana need protection: Amnesty
Ghana’s national flags flay at half staff for late Ghana President John Atta Mills in Accra, Ghana, Friday, July 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Christian Thompson ) (The Associated Press)
Published: pril 14, 2025 By: AFP, CTV News Canada
Accra, Ghana — Hundreds of people suspected of witchcraft in Ghana, especially older women, face rampant human rights abuses including murder, Amnesty International said Monday, asking the government to criminalise accusations and ritual attacks.
In 2023, the Ghanaian parliament passed a bill making it a criminal offence to declare, accuse, name, or label someone as a witch but the bill is yet to be signed into law.
“The accusations, which can lead to threats, physical attacks or even death, usually start within the family or among community members following a tragic event such as an illness or a death,” Amnesty said.
“Older women living in poverty, with health conditions or disabilities are at greater risk, as well as women who do not conform to stereotypical gender roles. In some cases, accusers even base their claims on having had a bad dream about a person,” it added.
The majority of victims are “marginalized individuals, particularly older women,” in areas in country’s northern and northeastern regions, the report said.
Belief in witchcraft remains common in many rural communities along the west African coast, including Ghana.
People accused of witchcraft are usually banished from their home areas and in Ghana they seek refuge in camps run by traditional priests “where they remain until they die or a family member or another community accepts them,” the rights monitor said.
Amnesty said Ghana had not done enough to protect victims, stressing the need for a sensitisation campaign in vulnerable areas.
It also said the government had failed to “ensure access to adequate food, safe housing and clean water” for people living in these camps.
“The authorities should pass legislation specifically criminalizing witchcraft accusations and ritual attacks, including protective measures for potential victims,” said Genevieve Partington, Amnesty’s country director in Ghana.
Partington is also a member of the Coalition Against Witchcraft Accusations, an association set up following the lynching of a 90-year-old woman in July 2020 in northern Ghana.
Similar attacks occur in other parts of Africa.
Eight women blamed for the death of two ailing boys in Guinea Bissau last year were forced to drink poison and died.
Also last year, two women in their sixties were publicly stoned and their bodies burnt in the Democratic Republic of Congo for allegedly causing the deaths of several people.
This is a reflection of how “we treat elderly people,” Leo Igwe, founder of Nigeria-based non-profit Advocacy for Alleged Witches, told AFP.
Samadu Sayibu of Ghana’s rights group Songtaba, said it also “highlighted issues such as gender and poverty”.
Unfortunately, killing or murdering for ritualistic purposes is no unknown crime in Ghana. It originates from traditional practices and beliefs (read: superstition). As in many more SSA countries, ritualistic killers do not hesitate to attack, abduct and abuse innocent victims, sometimes at random, just for their own, personal motives: to get-rich-quick or to enhance their prestige or political power.
This is what happened – or almost happened – in Ghana’s Eastern Region when four individuals attempted to murder a 12-year old girl, apparently for ritualistic purposes as they attempted to cut off her breast. Happily they got caught and fled.
Published: January 12, 2025 By: Neil Nii Kanarku– CitiNewsRoom, Ghana
A 13-year-old girl narrowly escaped an alleged ritual killing after being abducted by four unidentified men on Friday at Aburi-Kitase in the Akuapem South Municipality of the Eastern Region.
The teenager, who lives near the residence of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, went missing around 8 pm while heading to buy food in Kitase.
According to Citi News sources, the abductors had bound the girl’s hands and legs and were reportedly preparing to harm her by slashing her breast. However, they fled the scene when a good Samaritan fired warning shots upon discovering their activities.
Speaking to Citi News, the Assembly Member for the Kitase Electoral Area, Frank Amankwah, confirmed the incident and linked the growing insecurity in the area to the malfunctioning streetlights along the Ayi Mensah to Peduase Lodge stretch.
Amankwah called on the Inspector General of Police to bolster security in the area and address the rising prevalence of social vices near the Peduase Presidential Lodge.
“I have made several complaints about these traffic issues. From Ayi Mensah to Peduase Lodge, the street lights situated there are all not functioning. Boys from Ashiaman, Madina, Nungua, and nearby towns all come here, so if something like this happens, we cannot identify the source of it.
“So, I am pleading for adequate security in the area. It is very unfortunate how loose the security is in Peduase Lodge. I plead with the IGP and all the security apparatus to come to our aid.” he urged.
13-year-old girl survives alleged ritual murder attempt in Eastern Region
Published: January 12, 2025 By: Myjoyonline, Ghana
A 13-year-old girl narrowly escaped from an alleged ritual killing after being abducted by four unidentified men in Aburi-Kitase, located in the Akuapem South Municipality of the Eastern Region.
The incident occurred on Friday evening while the teenager went out to buy food around 8 pm.
According to reports, the abductors tied the girl’s hands and legs and were allegedly preparing to harm her, intending to slash her breast as part of their ritual.
However, their plans were thwarted when a passer-by, alarmed by the unfolding situation, fired warning shots, forcing the men to flee the scene.
Frank Amankwah, the Assembly Member for the Kitase Electoral Area, confirmed the incident in an interview with Citi FM.
He attributed the growing insecurity in the area to the non-functional streetlights along the Ayi Mensah to Peduase Lodge stretch, which have left the area poorly lit and vulnerable to criminal activities.
Amankwah expressed concern about the rising cases of social vices near the Peduase Presidential Lodge and urged the Inspector General of Police to enhance security in the area.
He explained that the lack of proper lighting and surveillance has made it difficult to identify culprits, with individuals from surrounding towns taking advantage of the situation to commit crimes.
“It is troubling that the streetlights from Ayi Mensah to Peduase Lodge are all out of order, and this has created a haven for miscreants.”
“I appeal to the IGP and other security authorities to prioritise our safety and address this issue promptly,” he stated.
NB – DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Leo Igwe is a famous human rights activist, an indefatigable fighter against superstition, witchcraft and ritualistic murders. In 2020 he started Advocacy for Alleged Witches. In this blog he regularly publishes on the lives of those affected by superstition and his organization’s efforts to save and/or to improve their lives.
The list of his achievements is too long to cite here, for shortness sake readers are referred to the internet where he is widely present.
In a recent article published in Ghana Leo Igwe gives his views on witchcraft and the need to effectively fight superstition, not only in this West African country, but in all African countries. He does not hide his views and feelings, as will be clear when reading the following essay.
No need to elaborate further on his message. Let me invite you to start reading while praising Leo Igwe and the valuable work he’s doing! (webmaster FVDK)
Witchcraft accusations and critical thinking: combating harmful effects of dogma and superstitions in Africa
Published: October 28, 2024 By: Leo Igwe – GhanaWeb
Leo Igwe works and campaigns to foster critical thinking skills in schools
Warning: The following post contains graphic contents which may upset readers
The main findings and conclusions of the research are summarized below. It is important to note that the research focused on identified or reported ritual killing cases. It is very likely that the actual number of murders for ritualistic purposes is significantly higher.
In Ghana, 160 ritual killings were identified between 2012 and 2021, including 94 children (58.8%). This represents a yearly average of at least 9 victims.
In Kenya, 102 ritual killings were reported in the 2012 – 2021 period which figure includes 66 children (64.7%) or a yearly average of 6-7 victims.
The arrest rates were extremely low in both countries.
Greed, money, was the main motivation of ritual killers in combination with superstition, notably in Ghana. In Kenya, many perpetrators caught murdered in fulfillment of their membership of devil worship or occult sects.
Besides the belief in juju, also illiteracy, poverty and a failing justice system were important factors explaining the murdering of children for ritualistic purposes.
The authors of the study present some recommendations to fight ritualistic killings.
To download the study (38 pp.) please click here. (webmaster FVDK)
Killing children for rituals is rife in Ghana and Kenya, research shows
This important study, titled “Ritual Child Homicides in Ghana and Kenya: A Criminological Analysis”, is published in Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence at: https://doi.org/10.23860/dignity.2024.09.02.04.
The following is an astonishing story about galamseyers using babies for ritual purposes in search for gold. In an interview one galamseyer claimed that illegal miners buy babies from hospital employees for ritualistic purposes at Galamsey sites. The readers are warned that the following contains graphic details of horrific acts. (FVDK)
Illegal miners use babies for ritual purposes in search of gold‘Angel Morning Show’, September 29, 2024.
Ghana: illegal miners sacrifice newly-born babies for rituals to get gold
Published: September 29, 2024 By: Ghana Web
A retired galamseyer has revealed how illegal miners sacrifice newly born human babies in mining pits as ritual to enable them locate gold and other mineral resources in the soil.
Read the article originally published by Ghanaweb on Agst 12, 2023 below:
Screenshot. To watch the 45-mintes video including the interview with a galamseyer, please click here
A Ghanaian official, the Oti Regional Director of Gender Department Esther Hammond, called on traditional and religious leaders to help stop child marriage and harmful cultural practices such as “ritual killing of innocent children on the basis of witchcraft accusation.” Her plea came during a consultative meeting held at Kpassa, in Nkwanta North District of the Oti Region, a newly created region, in December 2018, carved out of the northern part of the Volta Region.
The meeting was organized by the Oti Regional Department of Gender, in collaboration with the Oti Regional Coordinating Council, and funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Its objective was to to tackle early child marriage and other harmful cultural practices that impede the development of the area.
The fate of children in Ghana – as of those in other countries – who are accused of witchcraft is saddening. It leads to their exclusion, to discrimination, and other harmful practices including death. It should be stopped. I wish to thank Mrs Hammond for raising her voice against these outdated and cruel practices. (FVDK).
Stakeholders discuss child marriage, harmful cultural practice in Nkwanta area
Published: June 11, 2024 By: Times reporter – Ghanaian Times
A consultative meeting has been held at Kpassa, in Nkwanta North District of the Oti Region, on Tuesday, to tackle early child marriage and other harmful cultural practices that impede the development of the area.
The meeting sought to raise awareness about negative effects of child marriage, deepen stakeholders’ understanding of the issues, and equip community leaders with knowledge and skills needed to advocate policy changes and local interventions.
It was organised by the Oti Regional Department of Gender, in collaboration with the Oti Regional Coordinating Council, and funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFP).
The event was attended by he Oti Regional Department of Gender, in collaboration with the Oti Regional Coordinating Council, and funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFP). among others.
The meeting was held against the backdrop of the 2023 Ghana Statistical Service Report that showed that in the Nkwanta North District, 1,014 children aged 12 to 17 years had ever been in union, with 43.0 per cent being boys and 57.0 per cent being girls.
The report indicates that such early unions often led to poor health outcomes, increased risks of maternal and child mortality, disrupted education, entrenched poverty and gender inequality.
The Oti Regional Director of Gender Department, Esther Hammond, said despite global and national efforts to eliminate harmful unsafe practices, it remained a significant challenge, particularly impacting the lives of young girls.
She noted that child marriage was denying adolescent girls and boys education and apprenticeship, resulting in deprivation and poverty.
Ms Hammond appealed to parents and guardians to desist from forcing their girls into early marriage, and rather support them to pursue education.
She called on traditional and religious leaders to help stop child marriage and harmful cultural practices such as “ritual killing of innocent children on the basis of witchcraft accusation.”
The Oti Regional Director of Social Welfare, Innocent Komla Agblosu, advised parents to seek the welfare of their children and give them proper training, to become responsible citizens.
He urged children to study hard, obedient and responsibilities, “because rights goes with responsibilities”.
The Nkwanta North District Chief Executive, William Nawugona, in a speech read on his behalf, gave the assurance that the assembly would collaborate with other stakeholders to tackle issues of child marriage and harmful cultural practices.
The District Public Health Nurse, Erasmus Awlime, sensitised the participants to health dangers of child marriage and teenage pregnancy.
The Nkwanta District Police Commander, Chief Superintendent of Police, Henry Ayisi Mensah, cautioned community leaders against handling crime, especially defilement, rape, and encouraged that such cases should be promptly reported to the police for the necessary action.
