Omanhene calls for more information on albino killings

Apam (C/R), May 21, GNA - The Omanhene of the Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Area, Obrifo Ahunaku Ahor Ankobea II has called for more information on reported albino killings allegedly by some politicians during the 2008 elections.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Obrifo Ankobeah requested that the office of national security should invite Sheikh Salawati Imam Rashid Qutubu Zaanam, the Spiritual Leader of the Salawati Mission of Ghana who was reported to have made the allegation. An Accra Daily on May 20, 2009 quoted Sheikh Zaanam, a one-time Imam in the Ghana Armed Forces as saying "during the elections, not only were animals slaughtered and sacrificed, but some human beings were buried alive, including albinos, deep in the forests." The paper also quoted the Imam as saying; "The spirits of these innocent souls that were killed or buried alive will unquestionably haunt the country because they did not die natural deaths." The Imam allegedly predicted road accidents and other calamities in the country unless a spiritual atonement was sought. "Until President John Evans Atta Mills considers having the country exorcised, all his efforts at putting things right will come to nothing," he said with robustness and confidence, the paper said. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Apam on Wednesday, Obrifo Ahor Ankobea described the revelation by the Imam as so serious to be swept under the carpet.

He must be made to assist the security apparatus to identify the perpetrators of the wicked crime for them to face the full rigours of the law. "As a spiritual leader of a religion, he knows what he was saying," the Omanhene stated and added that the allegation must be cleared to forestall albinos from living in fears in their own motherland. 21 May 09