Teachers in the Kwabre East District of the Ashanti Region are shying away from instilling discipline in students because of the fear of getting cursed. Education authorities say children in and around the Antoa Shrine resort to the Nyamaa deity when teachers call them to order. As a result the teachers have decided to turn a blind eye on deviant pupils whose misconduct continues to worsen indiscipline and poor academic performance in the district. Luv FM’s Erastus Asare Donkor reports that many people in the Ashanti Region accord spiritual reverence to the Antoa Nyama deity. It is said to possess powers either to punish or prove the innocence of people suspected of committing crime. Some parents and their children have taken advantage of this spiritual tool to put untoward fear in teachers who try to enforce school rules. In some cases students have been compelled to reverse the curses, but some situations have ended up at the Asantehemaa’s court. Local schools like Abirem and Safo D/A Junior High as well as Nwamase D/A Primary have all witnessed incidents of curses on teachers who fear to incur the wrath of children supposedly under their care. Officials of the Ghana Education Service tell Luv News one teacher who suffered prolonged illness following a curse by a parent decided to leave the town for safety. Speaking to Luv News, Michael Kwame Awuah, Coordinator for Community Participation Unit of the Kwabre East Directorate said the practice has negatively affected teaching and learning in the district. In a bid to check this practice, the Kwabre District Assembly is considering a bye-law to outlaw the invocation of such unnecessary curses, according to Michael Afreh Gyimah, Convener for the Social Services Sub-committee. But even when such legislation comes into effect, some natives believe the solution lies in a concerted effort of traditional and local authorities to educate people on customary laws to avoid breaches.