Over 40 Fetish priestesses storm Accra Circuit Court

Fetish priestesses numbering over 40 yesterday besieged the Accra Circuit Court to demand the immediate release of one Bernard Ayi Amegavi being held by the police for allegedly possessing firearms and military accoutrement without authority.

The priestesses (Woyei), suspected to be from Ga Mashie, clad in their traditional white cloths, bare-footed and holding short brooms, cursed the police for holding the accused, who is also a traditional priest, for over two months. After a botched attempt to enter the court where the accused was being tried over the charges, the priestesses moved to the frontage of the court, attracting public attention. But the police whisked Ayi away into a waiting police vehicle with registration BA 1712 W, compelling the group to run after the police. According to the group, Ayi, 32, was not a robber. They therefore wondered why the police could remand him for over two months. Ayi had denied the charges of possessing firearms and military accoutrements without lawful authority. It is the case of the prosecution that the traditional priest on February 29 this year at Mamprobi in Accra had in his possession a pump action gun and a pistol without authority. He is also alleged to have had a military uniform and two military desert boots without authority. The trial judge, Aboagye Tandoh, has however adjourned sitting until May 9. The prosecution told the court that complainants in the case were policemen from the Mamprobi Police Station. The accused resides at Mamprobi. On February 29 this year, at about 6:00pm, the Tema Abbafoitse, who is also the National President of the Ghana Psychic and Traditional Healers Association, sent a letter to the Mamprobi Police Station to assist them to trace Amegavi and conduct investigation on him for holding himself as a member of the Association and practising as a traditional healer. The complainants, therefore, invited Amegavi to the police station for questioning. Prosecution said during questioning, an informant alerted the police that Amegavi had in his possession guns and that he had been seen in military uniform. The prosecutor said the police escorted Amegavi to his room at Mamprobi and during a search, a pump action gun and pistol were retrieved. On 1st March this year, another search was conducted and a set of military uniform with the accused person’s name tag boldly displayed on it and two “desert’’ boots were found in his room. Prosecution said Amegavi could not produce documents covering the guns. In his cautioned statements, Amegavi admitted that the military accoutrements and guns were found in his room, but failed to lead the police to where he obtained them. By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson

Source: Daily Guide