Regional News of Monday, 20 April 2015

Source: Daily Guide

Tema Mantse angry over Juju

Some Ewes residing at Bankuman, a community along the coast of Tema Newtown in the Greater Accra Region, have incurred the wrath of the chief of Tema, Nii Adjei Kraku II, over some heathen objects they had mounted in the area which the chief (Mantse) suspects to be juju.

The Tema Mantse, who was bitter about the indiscriminate mounting of the objects – mostly at the entrances of the homes of the residents – noted that the amulets he saw looked scary and prevented other people from coming to the area.

He cautioned the Ewes to desist from mounting such objects at the place.

He posited, “Some of you people have mounted scary objects around your houses and preventing people from coming to the community.

Although you have these lesser gods, thieves still come to rob you of your possessions as I have received several complaints of rampant criminal activities at Bankuman.

“My advice to you people is that please, if you are interested in those lesser gods, kindly send them to your hometowns or elsewhere and not Tema, because we love one another and we do not believe in having enemies since that might result in confusion.”

Nii Adjei Kraku II made the remarks during a ground-breaking ceremony by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) for the construction of a Community Health Improvement Services (CHIP) Compound at Bankuman.

The paramount chief further expressed disgust about non-payment of royalty to the Tema Traditional Council (TTC) by the Ewes.

He cautioned them about the permanent structures given to them to temporarily occupy, warning them about dumping of filth into the sea and along the shores of the ocean.

Togbui Datsomu II, the Ewe community chief in Tema Newtown, agreed to the concerns raised by the Mantse, and gave the assurance that he and his people were going to start paying some royalties to the TTC for the land given to them to occupy.

Touching on the supernatural power (juju) issue, Togbui Datsomu II explained, “I have noticed the juju issue myself but when you say it my people keep saying it is freedom of worship.”