The issue of occultism in the Akomadan-Afrancho townships in the Offinso North District in the Ashanti Region should not raise eye brows since it hosts the famous and dreaded fetish priest, Nana Kwaku Bonsam. However, what is worrying is the engagement of school children between the ages of 7 to 12 in the act as well.
This revelation was made known after authorities of the Akomadan RC Junior High School questioned four children who were spotted in the bush practicing the act.
The four were hauled in front of the school’s disciplinary committee after they were seen in the bush by a parent who saw them reciting some incantations invoking apparently what is believed to be dwarfs and spirits.
According to the parent, she overhead their voices from the bush and out of curiosity drew closer only to find the children chanting. She reported them to authorities of the school and upon interrogation, they all confessed their involvement in the act. Shockingly, one of them, a Twelve year old JHS 1 pupil whose name is withheld due to ethical reasons was singled out as the leader of the group.
To the surprise of the teachers present, this innocent looking boy confirmed the claim of his other colleagues and also admitted initiating them into occultism.
According to the boy, he was also introduced to the act by a friend when they were in primary school.
He claimed the membership of the group he leads cuts across different schools in the town and made mention of some group members which shockingly included a 7 year old boy. He also asserted that he possessed 8 dwarfs and named some of them. When asked what they stand to gain from the practice, he said ‘depending on the spirit you call, among other things they give us biscuits, toffees, money and strength for fighting’. “They sometimes even give us examination questions” he added.
Interestingly, a check on the academic records of the children was nothing to write home about as they all performed poorly in their respective classes.
Subsequent investigations and interviews in the township confirmed that indeed occultism among school children was very common and for that matter there is the existence of different occultism groups in the schools.
Teachers from different schools also narrated their encounters with some of these children and expressed their worries. “This requires divine intervention, sometimes you go to the classrooms to find broken eggs and powder smeared everywhere” one teacher who pleaded anonymity lamented.
Some parents also articulated their worries at the issue. “Instead of them to learn, they go about talking to dwarfs” a worried parent said.
Junior High schools in the Akomadan and Afrancho townships are among the poor performing schools when it comes to the Basic Education Certificate Examination.
Previous and recent records from the District Education Office shows that most schools record less than 10% passes every year to the extent that some even record 0% passes annually. With this new development, the situation may get even worse if it is not quickly addressed.
Attah- Effah Badu/Ghananewslink.com
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