A Lecturer at the Gbewaa College of Education in the Upper East Region, Edmund Anamboi Aduko, his younger brother, Aduko Isaac Asaa, a Teacher, Pastor Ayaka Calvin aged 20, and three others have been remanded into Police Custody by the Bongo District Court for allegedly accusing a 61-year-old woman as a witch and allegedly masterminding a trail by ordeal process.
The other three who were on Friday, August 2, 2024, also reminded by the court are Pastor Akayeti George aged 26, Yakubu Zachariah an unemployed 20-year-old young man and Agana Pius 20 years old and unemployed.
The six were reminded on two counts, Count one; for offensive conduct: contrary to section 207 of the Criminal and Other Offences Act of Ghana, Act 1960 (Act 29), which is without lawful authority, uttering abusive words to wit “you are a witch, you gave witchcraft to some particular children” to the annoyance of Ayidana Abotisei with intent to provoke her and count two, trail by ordeal: contrary to Section 315 (A) of the Criminal Offences Act of Ghana Act (29.60), six others, who are on the run, are now being pursued by the Ghana Police Service for the same offence.
The six on the run are Asinga, Baba Adongo, Nyaaba, Atiah, Atobire and Adogwereke.
In the Brief Fact, the Prosecutor, Chief Inspector Victor Quarshie, told the court that the accused persons, who are residents of Adaboya, a community in the Bongo District have charged the victim, 61-year-old Ayidana Abotisei of being a witch and allegedly “sitting” on their progress.
On August 1, 2024, at about 10:00 am they allegedly stormed the 61-year-old lady, “took her out of the house and offensively paraded her around the Adaboya Community” accusing her of witchcraft.
She is said to have been subsequently taken to a soothsayer, where they placed a local pot with fire on her abdomen and forced her to admit that she was a witch.
After the trial by ordeal, she was then taken to the Chief Palace which later saw Aduko Joseph, a Physician Assistant immediately report to the police leading the victim’s rescue by a police team.
The court proceeded to deny the plea of the accused persons to be granted bail after they pleaded not guilty to the two counts and individually provided reasons for which they thought they should be granted bail.
Having been denied bail and kept in the custody of the Ghana Police, the court presided over by His Worship Mawukoenya Nutekpor adjourned the case to 15th August 2024.
The Complainant, Joseph Aduko, explained to Dreamz News that his mother and her husband virtually raised his uncle Edmund Anamboi Aduko, seeing him through school and at a point had to withdraw their eldest son from school and delay his education to see Edmund Aduko through school.
He said there are comments always questioning why they (children of the accused woman) are successful and building houses.
In a related development, the court also remanded Ayamga Godwin, age 37, Asandoo Gideon, age 25 and Christopher Abugre for allegedly threatening Aduko Joseph during the process of rescuing his mother from the hands of her accusers.
In the Particulars of Offence, the three are recorded to have said “If you come back to Adaboya Community, we will kill you.” With intent to put the said Aduko Joseph into fear of harm.
The accused persons are said to have been offended by Mr Aduko’s decision to report the matter to the police.
They will equally remain in Police Custody and reappear on 15th August 2024.
