Ghana IntelBrief
Back to Latest Briefings
‘I feel compelled to behead people when possessed’: Ritual killer confesses
March 14, 2026
AI-Enhanced

‘I feel compelled to behead people when possessed’: Ritual killer confesses

Policy

Key Points

  • A fetish priest, Cudjoe Hlolary, confessed to the gruesome murder and decapitation of 41-year-old Joyce Akua Amponmaa in Ghana's Central Region.
  • Hlolary claims he committed the act under an uncontrollable spiritual trance, experiencing violent urges to decapitate humans due to a malevolent spirit.
  • The suspect admitted to a history of these urges, having previously struggled to suppress them and nearly harming his own brother.
  • Authorities confirm the victim's body was mutilated for ritualistic purposes, with parts allegedly transported to the Volta Region, prompting police to coordinate with traditional leaders.
  • The victim's family vehemently rejects the spiritual possession defense, viewing it as a calculated attempt to avoid accountability, while the community questions how the priest was allowed to operate.

Why This Matters

This tragic incident highlights persistent concerns about ritual murders and the regulation of traditional healers in Ghana, raising serious questions about public safety and accountability. It underscores the need for robust policies to scrutinize individuals operating in spiritual capacities and to ensure justice for victims, particularly when perpetrators attempt to use spiritual possession as a defense. The case also impacts societal trust in traditional practices and deepens community distress.

Read Full Article

View original source

Related Articles

QNET, Manchester City Host Grassroots Football Clinic in Ghana

May 25, 2026

QNET, Manchester City Host Grassroots Football Clinic in Ghana
  • QNET and Manchester City expanded their global partnership by hosting the “ManCity-QNET Football Clinic 2026” in Accra, Ghana.
  • The five-day grassroots programme, held from May 20-24, trained 25 selected boys and girls aged 8-11.
  • Participants received elite coaching based on Manchester City academy methods, focusing on football development, leadership, and confidence.
  • The initiative was described as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) effort aimed at empowering young talents, not a scouting exercise.
  • Organisers plan to make the football clinic a regular event in Ghana and across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Read full briefing

Ghana’s Jada Yankey clocks new personal best at AP Race London International

May 24, 2026

Ghana’s Jada Yankey clocks new personal best at AP Race London International
  • Ghanaian swimmer Jada Yankey achieved a new personal best in the women’s 50m butterfly at the AP Race London International 2026.
  • She clocked 30.74 seconds, finishing second in her heat at the competition held from May 23 to 25.
  • The event took place at the London Aquatics Centre, a recognized international swimming competition licensed by World Aquatics.
  • Yankey, who is set to turn 14, is considered one of Ghana’s most promising young swimming talents.
  • She previously recorded several personal bests at the 2026 Africa Aquatics Championships in Oran, Algeria.
Read full briefing

Keta MP offers relief to Afiadenyigba SHS after fire outbreak

May 24, 2026

Keta MP offers relief to Afiadenyigba SHS after fire outbreak
  • MP for Keta, Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey, donated essential supplies to Anlo Afiadenyigba Senior High School.
  • The donation followed a fire that gutted the boys' dormitory on May 19th.
  • The relief package included mattresses and bedsheets, aimed at providing immediate support to affected students.
  • The fire was brought under control by the Anloga Fire Station, preventing further spread.
  • The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) urged all schools nationwide to strictly observe fire safety measures.
Read full briefing