Akropong Akuapem, April, 23, GNA -The Reverend Dr Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, Chairperson of the Akuapem Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, has bemoaned the increase of the "Sakawa" business among Ghanaian youth and urged the government to ban all forms of occultism in the country.

"Apart from the fact that this philosophy is unchristian, it is also releasing demonic spirits into the Ghanaian social system and we, as a church, wish to condemn it outright", he stated. Rev. Dr Mante, who was speaking at the opening of the 82nd Presbytery Conference at Akropong, therefore, charged the government to ban Sakawa and all other forms of occultism in our society. "Sakawa," a phenomenon, which has attracted mainly the youth in the Ghanaian society, is the use of 'juju' and other nefarious activities to defraud people to get rich overnight. Patrons of Sakawa reportedly undergo bizarre initiation rituals, including sleeping in coffins to achieve their aims.

Occultism is also widely reported to be practised in some educational institutions.

Rev. Dr Mante said one solution to the problem was for the government to create more jobs as well as an enabling environment for small and medium scale businesses to flourish. He announced that the Akuapem Presbytery is to spend between GH¢ 8,000 to GH¢ 10,000 every year to sponsor young people to higher institutions of learning to improve upon their livelihood. The six-day conference is being attended by over 250 delegates, including both lay and the ordained from all the 19 districts that form the presbytery.

Rev. Dr Mante said that decision to sponsor the youth was the church's contribution to helping reduce such social vices. He appealed to all congregations' and individuals within and outside the presbytery to support the laudable idea to ensure that more people would benefit from the scholarship scheme.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, commended the Presbyterian Church of Ghana for its role in the socio - economic development of the country over the years.

He observed that provision of quality education in the country would depend to a large extent on the total collaboration between both the government and all stakeholders and urged the religious bodies to continue to play their roles.