Okyenhene bans all illegal shrines; orders their removal
The paramount chief of the Akyem Abuakwa traditional area, Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin has ordered the removal of all “alien” shrines from the area.
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The respected chief in a statement said, found it necessary to take the action to stem the provocative spectre of mushrooming alien shrines belonging to fetish priests with no clear social ties and identity, who are mainly from neighbouring countries.
He said it was a violation for any foreign or alien shrines to be present in the Akyem Abuakwa traditional area.
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A statement from the office of the Okyenhene said: “It has been observed that over the past decade, there has been an unperfected influx of immigrant ritualists guised 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. For the sake of clarity, alienation of land does not confer jurisdictional authority on the alienee and further the performance of unregulated ritual activities,” the statement added.
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The Osagyefuo has thus ordered the following:
1. That all alien shrines be closed down within two weeks from the date of this public statement.
2. An immediate end to all customary rituals alien to Akyem Abuakwa custom
3. By this notice, Osagyefuo requests the Ghana Police and other Security agencies to institute formal measures to intensify and broaden investigations to ritual murders and other criminal activities mentioned earlier.
4. In relation to the above, background checks must be made on all migrant fetish priest and their assigns.
5. Retrieval of all ammunitions to ensure the safety of lawful citizens.
The Okyenhene further ordered all chiefs in Akyem Abuakwa not to lease lands to immigrant traditional priests and their associates.
He added that any chief, irrespective of rank, who, under whatever circumstance, leases land for shrine purposes, will face immediate destoolment and other related sanctions.
YEN.com.gh earlier reported that a five-year-old girl has become the latest to contract the novel coronavirus disease in the Northern Region.
The victim, a resident of the Tamale Metropolis, is among some 13 new cases recorded in the Region between Friday, May 15, and Saturday, May 16.
The new cases have seen a jump of more than half in the case count for the region, from 19 to 32 on Saturday, May 16.
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Source: YEN.com.gh