The family of Nelson Kofi Anyina, a 25-year-old man who was gruesomely murdered for suspected ritual purposes and buried in a shrine, is appealing to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno, to ensure justice is served for their slain relative.

Nelson Kofi Anyina, a native of Wusuta in the North Dayi District in the Volta Region, was reported missing on December 4, 2024, after he left for Mafi Gblorkope in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region.

His disappearance remained a mystery until months later when his decomposed body was exhumed from a shrine believed to be used for ritualistic activities.

Speaking in an exclusive interview On July 9, 2025, Rev Canon Dr Confidence Bansah, the founder of the Center for Religion and Public Life (CRPL-Ghana) and a family member, called on the IGP to launch a full-scale investigation into the circumstances surrounding Nelson’s disappearance and subsequent murder.

He also demanded scrutiny into the conduct of the District Police Commander of Central Tongu, Chief Superintendent Jonas Kofi Agbevam, and the District Police CID Station Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Robert Foli.

According to the family, it took the intervention of the Volta Regional Police Command in Ho nearly eight months after Nelson’s disappearance to re-arrest the suspects, which eventually led to the exhumation of his remains.

"The family is appealing to the IGP to cause investigation into circumstances surrounding the disappearance and killing of our son and the conduct of C/SUPT./MR. Jonas Kofi Agbevam, District Police Commander of Central Tongu in the Volta Region and D/C/Inspr Robert Foli, District Police CID Station Officer," he said.

Nelson Kofi Anyina leaves behind a wife, two young children, and a financially struggling mother.

The Ghana Police Service's Homicide Unit, in a major breakthrough, exhumed multiple human remains from a shrine at Gblorkope in the Central Tongu District following investigations into Nelson’s suspected ritual murder.

The operation uncovered not only Nelson's body but also several other skeletal remains buried beneath idols, as well as assorted human body parts hidden in nearby bushes, raising fears of serial ritual killings.

Six individuals have been arrested and arraigned in connection with the murder.

The suspects, all residents of Mafi Adidome, include:

Augustina Fiawoyife, unemployed

Wisdom Hedidor, herbalist

Courage Bedzo, kente weaver

Gblor Noah a.k.a. Ekpedzi, a 37-year-old fetish priest

Gblor John, a 38-year-old security guard

Gblor Johannes, a 27-year-old lotto writer

The last three suspects are siblings and operators of the shrine where the bodies were discovered.

Police investigations revealed that Nelson’s tragic fate was set in motion when his mother, Comfort Hatse, a trader from Donkorkrom, reported him missing on December 17, 2024.

She told police that Nelson had left home on December 4 to meet Augustina Fiawoyife but never returned.

Further inquiries established that Augustina was romantically involved with both Nelson and another suspect, Wisdom Hedidor.

Consumed by jealousy, Hedidor allegedly conspired with others to murder Nelson.

Simultaneously, fetish priest Gblor Noah reportedly sought a human body for ritual purposes, offering a significant sum in exchange.

On December 12, 2024, Augustina lured Nelson to a secluded area near DC Bungalow, a suburb of Adidome.

There, Hedidor and Courage Bedzo ambushed and strangled him to death, with Augustina allegedly present during the killing. The body was then sold for GH¢7,000 to the fetish priest, transported to the shrine, and buried under idols after ritual ceremonies.

AM/KA

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