Curses kill 102 in Begoro yearly

The Begorohene, Daasebre Awua Kotoko, has expressed deep worry about the upsurge of invocation of death curses at Begoro in the Eastern region, which account for 102 deaths yearly in the area.

Daasebre Kotoko, also the Benkumhene of Akyem Abuakwa traditional area, said this when performing the installation ceremony of Seth Asihene, a driver and former Vice Charmian of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union, as a chief.

According to the chief, the traditional council records show that at least 32 deaths occur quarterly due to the invocation of death curses by persons offended under the least provocation.

He said the act is very rampant, especially among the youth who invoke death curses on colleagues suspected to be flirting with their girlfriends. Daasebre Kotoko said this has led to a number of preventable deaths among the youth.

He explained that though the traditional council has been performing rituals to overturn the consequences of such cases when reported early with the culprits heavily fined, many do it secretly, adding that the act is being supported by the influx of spiritualists in the area and disclosed that the traditional council will hold a meeting with the spiritualists in the area for solution.

He, however, advised the youth to desist from the act and instead dedicate themselves to God and focus on their education.

He warned that residents in the traditional area who fail to pay the levy being collected for the building of the chief's palace razed down by fire two years ago will be punished by the traditional council.

Swearing the oath of allegiance to the Begorohene, the newly installed Ankobeahene, whose stool name will be mentioned a week later as custom demands, vowed to serve Begorohene and partner him for the development of the town. The newly installed Ankobeahene of Begoro is expected to be outdoored on Saturday.