Pastor in the grip of Swedru chiefs

Agona Swedru, June 21, GNA - A pastor of the Word of Faith Christian Ministry International at Agona Swedru who allegedly performed some rituals at Agona Swedru without seeking permission from the chiefs has been punished by the Swedruman Council of Chiefs. The pastor was ordered to provide a cow, three bottles of schnapps and 500 Ghana cedis.

He has been given seven days to provide the items and if he fails the chiefs would advise themselves on their next line of action. Speaking at an arbitration meeting at Agona Swedru on Sunday, Nana Okrubi Aseidu Kobina Botwe II, President of the Council and Swedruhene, said on June 18 one Mr Fiifi Ocran, a resident of the area, reported to the Council that he had seen the Pastor burying a calabash containing some dried leaves a few distance from his (Ocran's) house.

Nana Okrubi Aseidu Kobina Botwe said he and some of his elders accompanied Mr Ocran to the scene where the calabash had been buried and later invited the Pastor to remove it but he refused. He ordered some of his elders to remove the calabash and brought it together with the pastor and his wife to his palace. Nana Okrubi Aseidu Kobina Botwe said after deliberating on the matter the wife of the pastor, Ms Gifty Acquah, pleaded for forgiveness on behalf of the pastor. He appealed to pastors whose teachings were creating confusion and anarchy to stop.

The Chief said the punishment was to serve as deterrent to others and that they viewed the pastor's action as 93serious because it can mean that he planted juju that can cause the death of people". During the arbitration Nana Ogyabea Bedu Ehuren, Sannahene of Swedruman Council of Chiefs, asked the pastor to quote the portion of the Bible that states that Jesus Christ buried a calabash during his ministry but he could not when a Bible was given to him.