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Crime & Punishment of Wednesday, 4 May 2005

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Fetish Priest Killed

The Fetish priest in charge of the ?Botene? Shrine at Nsoatre, near Sunyani, Opanyin Atta Kwabena, has died of severe knife wounds inflicted on him by some assailants. The deceased also known as Wofa Atta, 70, died on Monday at the Sunyani Hospital following 15 knife wounds inflicted on him by the assailants.

The killers, who have not been identified attacked the deceased at 2 a.m. on Sunday. Briefing the Graphic on the incident, the Brong Ahafo Regional Deputy Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kwesi Appiah Boateng said Opanin Atta, who also kept various sums of money he got from operating the shrine, was asked by his family members to account for the proceeds from the shrine on Sunday. He said the deceased kept one third of the money for the shrine, while the family took two-thirds.

ACP Boateng said at 2 a.m. on Sunday, the deceased heard a knock on his door which was followed by the mention of his name, so he came out to see the person, only for him to be stabbed in the stomach many times by the assailants. He said the deceased who fell down, screamed for help and his son, Kwabena Fosu, who heard his cry for help, responded. But when he got to the scene, the assailants had fled.

The deputy regional police commander said Fosu saw his father in a pool of blood on the ground and with the help of other members of the family, he was rushed to the Sunyani Regional Hospital where he was admitted until his death. He said the deceased who was rushed to the hospital unconscious did not give any information to the police.