Hunchbacks in the township of Bibiani in western Ghana are receiving extra police protection after the recent murder of two of them whose humps were removed, police said.

Earlier this month, the body of a hunchback who died of natural causes and was buried in a cemetery in a nearby township was exhumed and the hump taken away, police said.

Some community members believe that the humps are used for ritual purposes because the blood of hunchbacks is spiritually potent.

"The murderers know best what they are going to use the humps for," Bibiani district police commander Sampson Anane-Appiah said.

He admitted that the police are worried and have decided to offer more protection for the hunchbacks.

They "have been assured that the police are on their side," Commander Anane-Appiah said.