Two officials from the National Identification Authority are seeking compensation from the Gbese Traditional Council in Accra following allegations of forceful inspection of their genitals. The two who were officially assigned to register people in the Gbese community in Accra, succumbed to the threats of a fetish priest who claimed it was an abomination for an uncircumcised male to enter the Gbese palace, venue for the registration exercise. In ensuring the supposed sanctity of the palace, the priest allegedly ‘explored’ the genitals of the two men and when satisfied with the ‘status of circumcision’ allowed registration to proceed. The two officials whose names have been withheld say their rights have been violated by the act and are demanding compensation. One of the officials, who lost his mother days before the inspection, is said to be even more traumatized. The MP for the area, Jonathan Nii Tackie-Commey is said to have apologized to the two men for the act, but the victims insist the apology is not enough to ameliorate the extent of trauma and dehumanization suffered as a result of the inspection. Bertha Dzeble, Head of Public Relations at the NIA, told Joy News’ Seth Kwame Boateng the NIA has petitioned the director of the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to begin investigations. She said their employees were not only dehumanized but discriminated against, especially when none of the other people who entered into the palace was subjected to similar inspection. According to her, “one of them (victims) tried to argue with them finding out whether every person who entered the palace to get registered was inspected” but that was fiercely resisted by the priest and five others. She hopes the CID will move to investigate the matter and demand the necessary compensation from the Gbese chief for onward transmission to the victims. Bertha Dzeble noted that the case at hand needs more than a single apology, more so when the victims have threatened legal action against the priest and the people of Gbese. Play the attached audio for excerpts of the interview with Dzeble Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana