Juju Money Causes Panic @ Ahafo

When the children of Gyedu  in the Asutifi North District of the Brong Ahafo Region spotted a polythene bag, known locally as 'Efiewura Soa me', on a refuse dump site on Monday, February 3, 2016, around 4pm, their curiosity would not drive them away, without finding out its content.

Not even the white cloths, cola nuts, original hacks toffees and some spiritual materials lying beside the bag would scare the children away from opening its content. After throwing caution to the wind, the children opened the bag and found out that it was full of GHC 50, GHC 20, and GHC 10 notes.

A scramble then ensued and those who had the strength to elbow their colleagues took a lion share of the 'jackpot.' Some of the children got as high as GH800 and GH700, with the unlucky ones going home with not less than GH400.

Adults who spotted the scramble for money by the children jumped into the fray and with their massive strength against the children, managed to also yank substantial amounts from the bag, with some of the monies getting torn in the process.  Whilst the children sent their shares of the cash to their parents, the adults went on merry making spree to thank God for the gift.

But when it later emerged that the money was apparently used for a spiritual sacrifice, the entire community went dead, with the some of the beneficiaries and their families living in perpetual fear of being killed by the spirit behind the sacrificial money.  As if that was not enough, those whose sweats genuinely earned them GH50, GH20 and GH10 notes can no more use it as a legal tender in the village.

Provisions, food and fish  sellers in the community are turning down those holding these currency notes for fear of accepting some of the' blood' money into the genuine ones in their possession.  When The Chronicle got hint of the case and rushed to the village, the people were virtually in a state of mourning, fearing that they could die any moment from now.

Some of them told this reporter that if the money was like food, they would have forced to vomit it, but as things stand now, there was nothing they could do and that they were only praying that the gods behind the money would have mercy on them.

In an interview with The Chronicle, the Omanhene (paramount chief) of the Goaso traditional Area, Nana Kwasi Bosomprah said he has never heard of such news in the history of the traditional area.

To him, the money was spiritual money and that those who took it must return them to either his palace or the police station. Nana warned that the money might have been used for spiritual sacrifice and that destruction awaits those who took it.  “If you enjoy it today, you will pay back in multiples spiritually, even with your family,” the Omanhene cautioned.