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.

The murder of Nelson Anyena sparked national outrage, and was widely covered in the media – as well as on this site. See my July 14 post, Ritual murder in the Volta Region, six arrested.

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

Published: October 4, 2025
By: GhanaWeb

Source: Purification rites performed to restore sanctity of revered deity in Mafi-Avakpedome