Fetish priest sentenced to death after killing two men in money-doubling scheme

The accused was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for causing harm to a third victim

A fetish priest has been sentenced to death on two charges of murder.

The fetish priest, Kwabena Thomas Oduro, was found guilty of murdering Joseph Affenyi Nyame, a student of Kwahu-Ridge SHS, and Michael Ofori Agyepong, a storekeeper in 2013.

A Koforidua High Court presided by Justice Cecilia Naa Shormeh Davis, also handed Kwabena Thomas Oduro, a 10-year imprisonment sentence for causing harm with an offensive weapon to Kwadwo Anane, a student of Ngleshie Amanfrom Senior High School near Kasoa.

A seven-member jury unanimously returned a verdict of guilty, on all three counts against Oduro, who pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The prosecution, in establishing evidence beyond all reasonable doubt, called nine witnesses including the biological mother and the wife of the accused person who testified against him.

The facts of the case presented to the court by Chief State, Attorney Mrs Emily Addo-Okyireh, were that in the early part of February 2013, the deceased, Michael Ofori Agyepong informed Kwadwo Anane and Joseph Affenyi Nyame, that the accused at Kwahu-Atwedie could make a charm for wooing women called ‘for girls’ as well as double money for them.

On February 18, 2013, the three friends set off from Ngleshie Amanfrom to the accused person at Kwahu-Atwedie with a cash amount of GH¢1,800.00 to which the accused collected and promised to double to GH¢3,600.00 for them.

The Chief State Attorney said in the process of performing the spiritual rites, the accused person invited the three into the bush at the outskirts of the town and made them undress and remain in their boxer shorts only.

He then gave them some fresh eggs and concoctions to drink and they soon became drowsy, afterwards, he butchered all three with a machete and bolted away with their money and luggage including laptops and mobile phones.

However, Anane was found in the bush alive by a farmer who raised an alarm and he was sent to the hospital for treatment after sustaining machete wounds on the head, face and other parts of the body.

Upon a tip-off, the accused was traced to Batume Junction on the Ghana-Togo border where he was arrested with a laptop and three Nokia phones which victim Kwadwo Anane carried to the accused person’s place.

The accused was subsequently arraigned before the court.