Kumasi, Feb 21, – Nwoase, a
community in the Wenchi Municipality is enveloped in tension over alleged
cruelty of a self-acclaimed ‘chief priest’ of the powerful Kwaku Fri Shrine.
Nana Kofi Afena is accused of
grabbing farms, seizing livestock and property of anybody perceived to be
opposed to his moves to take over the shrine.
Many are reportedly fleeing the
place for fear of their lives.
Opanin Yaw Asafo-Adjei, an elder
of the town and a member of the family that owns the shrine, has now sought
refuge in Kumasi and told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that, it was not looking
good.
He said things were spiralling
out of control and spoke of savage violence on helpless people by gangs of
marauding young men paid by Nana Afena.
He added that a virgin forest in
the area, which had been protected over the centuries was now being cut down –
destroyed by the said chief priest and his agents.
Opanin Asafo-Adjei appealed for
firm and swift action by the appropriate authorities to end the lawlessness and
the impunity.
He discounted the claim made by
Nana Afena, who until three years ago, was the Brafuohene (chief executioner of
the shrine) that “he is possessed by Kwaku Fri deity” and insisted, that could
not be true.
“The bully young man clearly
knows what he wants everybody to accept he is, cannot be genuine and that is
why he has been unable to swear the oath of allegiance to the Asantehene, in
line with customary practice”, he added.
Mr. Atta Kwabena, Secretary to
the said chief priest, did not deny the accusations but said steps were being
taken to get things sorted out with aggrieved persons.
Caption:
Nana Afena with a big snake
coiled on the neck
GNA
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