Traditional authorities at Nungua a suburb of Accra, have summoned parents of two teenage boys who have been caught engaging in occultism.

According to reports, Afotey and Borketey have built a shrine where they worship.

The boys were marched to the residence of the Nungua Wulomo after they were apprehended at the Nungua beach.

There has been an increasing use of black magic by many teenagers in Nungua.

Punishment for children that engage in such practices is public lashing and ritual purification by the chief priest.

The police in the company of the traditional authorities led the boys to their shrine located near a cemetery at the Nungua beach.

The traditional leaders say they are not backing down, insisting that the boys need to be punished.

Nii Boye Modzi

An elder, Nii Boye Modzi told Joy News’ Kwetey Nartey that the boys, Afotey and Borketey, need to be purified by the chief priest as tradition demands.

But Nungua District Police Commander DSP Patience Akwetey said the police cannot and will not allow the boys to be treated in a manner that endangers their safety and security.

DSP Patience Akwetey

“Police has no business with gods, idols and traditionalists, our job is to ensure that the boys are not beaten or harmed”.

Human Rights Activist Richard Adjei Poku says the practice of public lashing and exorcism is a violation of the rights of the boys.

He said any law that contravenes what is stipulated in the 1992 constitution is considered unlawful.

“There is no law that is superior to our 1992 constitution which provides freedom of worship so if the traditional authorities want to address the issue, the only thing they can do is to offer advice but if they decide to lash them because their customs and traditions forbid their act, then they are also taking the law into their own hands and they can be dealt with by the law”.