A 70-year old widow was on Tuesday stripped naked and severely beaten in public at Agorhome, near Sogakope in the South-Tongu District by a Pastor and his aide, who labelled her a witch, during a supposed prayer exercise to cast out demons.
The Pastor also accused the widow of being the cause of the lack of progress in the lives of the inhabitants of the village.
The victim, Madam Rose Awadzige, a farmer was treated and discharged at Sogakope District Hospital of bruises and fatigue she suffered as a result of the over two-hour ordeal.
The Pastor, Elijah Awadu, Alias Elijah Adrakpanya, of the Jesus Miracle Prayer Group, also caused a number of trees in Agorhome to be felled, claiming it was revealed to him the trees were feasting grounds of alleged members of committees of local and visiting witches.
A source close to the Dabala Police, where the Pastor and his aide had been detained told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the Pastor, who had a prayer camp at nearby Ahiatrogah Kope, last Tuesday organized a prayer and fasting programme at the camp to cast demons.
He said the Pastor, a native of Afife, near Abor in the Volta Region, claimed to have seen the victim attempting to bewitch a girl.
The source said the old lady who had just returned from her garden and tidying up her compound was attacked by the Pastor and his aide, stripped her naked, hands tied and subjected to severe beatings, forcing her to confess her possession of witchcraft before curious onlookers.
He said the victim was dragged in the nude to the roadside amidst hooting and catcalls until her daughter returned from the farm to cloth her.
The source said the Police arrived shortly afterwards and arrested the Pastor and his aide, Dominic Aglago, a primary five pupil aged 17.
Pastor Awadu told the GNA that the victim came to him herself to confess her possession of witchcraft, but a relative of the victim denied it.
Police Chief Inspector Kwame Nanevi, in-charge of the Dabala Police confirmed the story and said that Awadu and Aglago who were on police enquiry bail would soon be put before court for assault.
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