The Ghana Health Service has attributed recent deaths in and around the Tema Metropolis to lifestyle diseases and not spiritual forces as it was earlier speculated.

Recent records of some nine deaths within 10 days have caused fear and panic in the New Town community, with a traditional priest Agbafoitse Nii Abor Kome urging the residents to partake in a spiritual bath in the sea to purify themselves.

The Ghana Health Service subsequently dispatched personnel to the community to investigate the deaths.

Listing their findings in a press release, Director General of the Service, Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare, said the people died from different medical conditions that cannot be linked or claimed to be infectious.

According to him, interviews and visits also confirm that, while some died from knife wounds and severe head injuries, others died from cardiac failure, lymphatic filariasis and ectopic pregnancy.

“A total of sixteen deaths have been recorded from two communities; Tema Harbour Electoral area and Awudum Area within the Tema East Municipal between the period of 29th October and 7th November, 2018. The persons died from different medical conditions that are not linked and are not infectious,” the statement said.
The Director General further called for calm among the residents as investigation is still ongoing.

Find the full statement below