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Opinions of Sunday, 25 October 2015

Columnist: Nana Kodjo Jehu-Appiah

The 19-year-old ritualist and cash deficiency

The fright was that it was not a revulsion scene on a likely quickly shot Ghallyhood movie that could stretch to part four and five.

The story making the headlines was not based on a film produced on an attention-grabbing song topping the chart waves, or any other subject matter Ghanaian movie lovers are acclimatised to.

Outrageously it was a 19-year-old man who allegedly fell for the narcissism of becoming rich, richer or perhaps the richest in the country. It was appalling but very interesting story because it was unimaginable for someone in the most important part of life to be at collision course with an act simply illogical and dangerously too daring.

If the story is true, then Daniel Kwei Baffour was trapped by his innocence outlook to life to know that it is abominable to shed blood to achieve the aspiration of becoming affluent. I am happy he did not decide to be an armed robber, which also involves bloodletting.

There are however other infamous ventures, which could have made him matter in the society. He could become a corrupt politician, engage in white colour crime or become a fake pastor or imam. He could even become a counterfeit doctor, policeman or paparazzi.

Poor Baffour rather chose his nephew for rituals to make him rich but luckily for his family pal the Amasaman Police foiled the alleged diabolical plan, and I believe the devil was part of the details.

Mallam Baba, I salute you for saving the life of the four-year-old boy who nearly became the sacrificial lamb to satisfy the craze of a young man to live in a mansion and drive a four wheel vehicle at all cost and perhaps fly stunning ladies to Las Vegas for lunch.

Mallam Baba suggested two fowls for the get-rich-quick rituals, but the suspect opted for human blood perhaps because he could not get the money to buy the live birds, but a human being instead of fowls? If the narrative is factual, then Baffour callously went too far to acquire instant soothe from the woes of poverty.

He was even ready to watch the cold-blooded slaughter of his nephew without passion.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Elvis Bawa Sadongo and his men did well for intervention, which I believe would give young Baffour the time and space to reflect upon the vanity of the enticement he yielded to and perhaps repent from the fatal options of looking for money and rather eye Galamsey or other lesser evils in this game of looking for riches.

Hmmmmmmm but this money stuff is really a headache for the society since cash is the only means of exchange and so the lack of the Cedi, Dollar, Euro could even spell your doom and how you’re ushered to church and where you have to sit and the role to play during an annual harvest programme.

Surely the “Love for money is the root of evil of all evil” but that is also the legal tender one needs to settle the bills and to define one’s worth in the society.