Chiefs of Awisa in Wenchi threaten to invoke a curse on thieves

Awisa (B/A), Dec. 19, GNA - The chiefs and elders of Awisa, a farming community in the Wenchi municipality have threatened to invoke 'Awisa Antoa' a local deity, on thieves who stole teaching and learning materials from the basic schools in the community. This, the chiefs noted, would help apprehend the perpetrators to face the full rigours of the law.

Opanin Kwaku Takye, an elder and spokesman for the chief told the Ghana News Agency at Awisa that the decision had been communicated through gong-gong beating to residents.

"Heads of the various families in the community have been tasked to verify from their family members if they had any knowledge about such thefts in order not to face its consequences", he said. Opanin Takye said the Awisa Methodist Primary and the local Authority Junior High school have since the year 2007 recorded about six theft cases, which has contributed to the loss of more than 800 text books, 200 boxes of chalk as well as a number of bags of maize and cashew nuts that were kept in the school.

Opanin Takye, who is also the Chairman of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of Awisa L/A Junior High school said as a result of the theft, Mr Michael Kusi Wiredu, Municipal Director of Education had threatened to close down the schools.

"The most painful aspect of the case is that the Education Director has blamed "we", the elders of the community for encouraging such unproductive behaviour, thus the need for the curse to help reverse the trend", Opanin Takye said.

Meanwhile, the PTA of the two basic schools in the community has engaged some people to guard the schools and also help crackdown the perpetrators.