Our River deities have lost their protective powers - Okomfo Baffour Gyau
Okomfo Baffour Gyau, a member of the Fetish Priests Association of Ghana, has stated that illegal mining (galamsey) has crippled the country's river deities, rendering them powerless against rising disasters, crime, and diseases.
Gyau attributed the surge in theft and disease to the deities' lost protective powers.
Speaking at the 14th Yam Festival in Bibiani Old Town, Gyau urged the government to halt galamsey's destruction of traditional worship and the environment.
"The galamsey menace has turned all the spirits in the rivers that were guarding the nation helpless,” he claimed. "At first there was high fear for someone to steal, but today robbery is increasing daily because curses don't work".
"The nation suffers from increased deaths, diseases, and outbreaks due to humanity's harmful actions, which our weakened river bodies can no longer prevent."
"Now there is a high death rate and other outbreaks of diseases in the country that are caused by the bad activities of human beings because our river bodies have lost their power of protection," he stated.
Christian leaders have also joined the chorus, highlighting water pollution's detrimental effects on baptismal practices. As Ghana approaches elections, Chief Oheneba Kwame Ako, Chief of Nkawie has called for peaceful polls, cautioning citizens against violence.
Source: Lead News Online
