In a chilling case that highlights the dark side of fetish practices, Agbeko Acumalt, a self-proclaimed fetish priest, stands accused of a heinous crime: the murder of a second-hand clothing trader from Accra’s Kantamanto Market. The victim had sought out the priest’s assistance in doubling her money, but when her investment failed to yield the promised returns, she threatened to report him to the authorities. Fearing legal consequences, Acumalt and his assistant, Selassie, allegedly devised a sinister plan to silence her forever.
The tragedy began in November 2022, when the trader lost her entire stock to a devastating fire at the Kantamanto Market, leaving her in dire financial straits. Desperate to revive her business, she turned to the fetish priest’s shrine in Lente-Wuti in March 2023, hoping that the so-called money doubling rituals would save her from ruin. It was during this time that Selassie, acting as the intermediary, provided her with a list of required items for the rituals.
Weeks passed, and the promised financial miracle failed to materialize. Frustrated and feeling deceived, the trader confronted Acumalt and Selassie, threatening legal action against them. In a horrifying turn of events, this confrontation proved to be her undoing. On March 26, the fetish priest invited her to his shrine, cautioning her to keep the journey a secret. Traveling from Kasoa-Kuwait in the Central Region to Lente-Wuti in the Volta Region, the victim unwittingly walked into a deadly trap.
Upon reaching the shrine, she was met by Acumalt and his accomplice. Tragically, instead of finding answers or justice, she met a gruesome end at their hands. The accused men allegedly strangled her, ending her life in a place she had sought solace and salvation. Her death remained a secret until April 3 when a concerned relative, Emmanuel Ofori Boadi, reported her missing.
The subsequent investigation led the police to uncover the horrifying truth. On April 5, Acumalt was apprehended, and further inquiries led them to the burial site on April 19. It was there that the victim’s decomposed body was discovered, serving as a grim testament to the depths of human depravity. Her remains were exhumed on April 23 and taken to the morgue for further examination.
The accused individuals now face charges and have been presented before the court, where they must answer for the brutal murder that has shaken the community. This harrowing incident serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers lurking within the shadows, where vulnerable individuals seeking solutions can fall victim to the malevolent intentions of others. As the legal proceedings unfold, the tragic tale of this innocent trader highlights the need for greater awareness and protection against such exploitation.
