Two fetish priests die after drinking Akpeteshie ‘bitters’

Two fetish priests from Techiman in the Brong-Ahafo Region on Wednesday died after drinking a mixture of Akpeteshie (a locally-brewed gin) and some herbs at Senease in the Berekum Municipality.

Chief Inspector Augustine Kingsley Oppong, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Police Public Relations Officer, gave their names as Nana Kwaku Prince, alias Rasta, aged 44 and Nana Kwame Ofori, 40 years.

Four other victims, also from Techiman are also on admission at the Berekum Holy Family Catholic Hospital, he said adding that they and Nana Ofori worked with Nana Prince at his shrine in Techiman.

Chief Inspector Oppong said on Wednesday, February 7 that Nana Kwadwo Obeng, aged 65, the fetish priest of the Tansie shrine at Senease and leader of Fetish Priest Association in the Berekum Municipality invited Nana Prince to participate in a six days workshop organised for members of the Association at Senease.

He said Nana Prince asked permission about 8:30 a.m. the next day to return with his team to Techiman, adding that as customs demands, Nana Obeng instructed some of his subjects to serve them with the Akpeteshie-herbal mixture locally referred to as ‘bitters’ before their departure.

Chief Inspector Oppong said immediately after they had drunk the bitters, all the six visitors complained of severe stomach pains and started vomiting and were rushed to the Holy Family Hospital but Nana Prince and Nana Ofori were pronounced dead on arrival.

He said the four - Kofi Isaac, 44 years; Febri Kwame, 35 years; Baffoe Mandela, 26 years and Benjamine Jesse, 76 years, are responding to treatment whilst the bodies of the two deceased have been deposited at the Hospital’s morgue.

Chief Inspector Oppong said Kwaku Asamoah, alias KK, Nana Obeng alias Okomfo Emmanuel, aged 65 and Kwaku Abebrese, suspects in the case are in Police in custody and assisting in Police investigation.