Chiefs and fetish priests of the Akyem state in the Eastern Region and its environs have performed necessary rituals to appease the god of the Birim River. This is in response to the river breaking its banks and flooding the area over the past weekend claiming five lives, destroying over 500 homes and rendering about a 1,000 people homeless. The river god is believed to have been angry at the youth in the town who were engaging in illegal mining (galamsey) activities and polluting the river. After the flooding, the priestess of the river, Nana Felicia warned of further calamity if rituals were not performed to appease the god. According to her, she had revelations that a young woman had stolen a brazen pot (Yaawa) which she used to collect refuse; an act believed to be an abomination and disrespectful to the god - and a contributory factor to the floods. Nana Felicia said elders of the town rejected her requirement that three cattle should be sacrificed as appeasement for the god. However after much debate and discussion, the Chiefs, elders and fetish priests in the area finally agreed and undertook the rituals on Tuesday. The ritual involved sacrificing a white sheep and two schnapps to the god. The Kontihene of Akyem Kotoku, Obrempong Gyamfi Sarfo Kyere II who led the delegation to perform the rituals said he believed the gods will accept their sacrifice. He however warned that chiefs in the area will employ all measures to enforce the traditional laws to protect their inheritance and prevent people from defiling the river. Adom FM’s Eastern Regional correspondent, Kwasi Azor who accompanied the delegation to the purification grounds said the chiefs are optimistic the water levels will go down soon. Story by Samuel Mantey/Adom News/Ghana