Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin has ordered an immediate end to human and other uncustomary rituals on Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area.
Okyenhene has also ordered the closure of all alien shrines within two weeks.
“In defense of greater public interest and fulfillment of his responsibility as the Overlord of Akyem Abuakwa, the Osagyefuo has found it prudent and timely to order the following measures. That all alien shrines be closed down within two weeks from the date of this public statement. An immediate end to all customary rituals alien to Akyem Abuakwa custom” A statement issued by D.M Ofori Atta, State Secretary of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council said.
Furthermore, Osagyefuo has requested the Ghana Police and other Security agencies to institute formal measures to intensify and broaden investigations to ritual murders and other criminal activities perpetrated by some fetish priests and spiritualists in the traditional council by conducting “background checks on all migrant fetish priest and their assigns. Retrieval of all ammunitions to ensure the safety of lawful citizens.”
Okyenhene has again ordered all Chiefs in Akyem Abuakwa not to lease lands to immigrant traditional priests and their associates warning that “any Chief, irrespective of rank who under whatever circumstance lease lands for the erection of shrines will face immediate destoolment and other related sanctions.”
According to Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, the decision was concerning the provocative specter of the establishment of alien shrines by Fetish Priests with no clear social ties and identity mainly from the neighboring Countries, directly linked with the violation of Akyem Abuakwa customary observances, ritual murders, fake currency racketeering, and other violent criminal activities.
Adding that, it has been observed that over the past decade there has been an unperfected influx of immigrant ritualists guise as traditional priests who have abused the hospitality of Okyeman and engaged in activities that threaten the lives of residents, social order and the health of the national economy.
“It must be stated that although the acquisition of land and landed property is permitted for non-subjects of the Ofori Panin Stool, it is strictly forbidden for migrant traditional rulers and traditional priests to invoke alien rituals and purport to exercise customary authority, which is the sole prerogative of Nananom of Akyem Abuakwa.”
Okyenhene referenced an incident on April 21, 2020, where “Police 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 according to news reports.
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.
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.
While congratulating the Police, Osagyefuo indicated that the Adeisu incident is not an isolated incident; it, however, authenticates several reports and complaints received by the Ofori Panin Palace and exposes the gravity of the situation.
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Obed Ansah
