The traditional leaders offering the libation prayer
Traditional leaders at Sefwi Asawinso in the Western North Region have warned grave looters who have allegedly invaded the various cemeteries in the area to desist from the act.
The traditional leaders, led by the Queenmother, Nana Ama Akyine, Abusuapani Kofi Nkrumah and Okyeame Gyasi, the Chief linguist, subsequently offered prayer, poured libation and called on the gods of the area to deal ruthlessly with the purported grave looters.
Speaking to journalists, the Nana Ama Akyineyie disclosed that the traditional leaders visited the cemetery and counted over 30 graves that have been looted.
“It was also revealed that some parts of the dead bodies have gone missing. This has heightened the perception that the heinous crime is being committed for ritual purposes,” she said.
“So we have offered libation, prayer and are calling on the perpetrators to desist from the act or face the wrath of the gods and Nananom”, she added.
According to the Queenmother, other measures are being put in place to stop criminals from further causing damage at the cemetery.
“We have not seen or heard such an abomination before in this town. How can you go and dig and loot skeletons of dead people?
“Why have they left the skulls in the grave and not take them along with what they looted,” she quizzed?
She stressed, “We are going to deploy security to monitor the place and ward-off the miscreants and anybody who will be caught will face the full rigorous of the law”.
She pointed out that the people are living in fear and panic following reports of grave looting in the area.
Abusuapanin Kofi Nkrumah, an opinion leader noted that they were not going to sit unconcerned for the perpetrators to continue with their alleged criminal acts at Sefwi Asawinso.
“We are going to deploy security to guard the cemetery and ward-off the miscreants and anybody who will be caught will face the law,” he said.
An assembly member of the area, Adu Stephen, who is also not happy about the situation hinted that he will officially alert the Sefwi Asawinso District Police Commander and was optimistic the police will help prevent future occurrences.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi