The Heir Apparent To A Shrine On The Run

One, Henry Ghartey, who is expected to assume the role of the Chief Priest of a village in the Central Region, has absconded from the town.

Henry Ghartey, the first child of the late  opanin Samuel Ben Ghartey , the Chief Priest of a town around the Anomabo traditional enclave refused to accept the responsibility of Chief Priest for the area after the demise of his late father.

According to traditions of that traditional area, Henry Ghartey who is the first child to the late priest is the qualified person to succeed the late father. 

An undercover check conducted by this reporter in the area shows that Henry Ghartey refused the offer of Chief Priest because he is no longer a traditional believer but a Muslim. 

An indigene of the town who spoke to this reporter under the condition of anonymity, disclosed that Henry has converted to Islam and that his Islamic name is Moussa, hence his refusal to be the community’ Chief Priest. 

He declined the priesthood offer because of his newly accepted Islamic faith which goes contrary to the traditional way of worship which eventually   didn’t go well with his family and community leaders. . 

The source said that after several attempts to persuade Henry to accept the position by the community leaders failed, Henry’s life came under serious threat in the area and as a result has to flee for his safety. 

On why the threats on his life, the source disclosed that per their traditions so long as Henry is alive the community gods will not accept any other person as a chief priest.

The source further revealed” since a new person cannot be chosen and Henry too has refused to assume that role, the best thing to do was to eliminate him to pave way for a new person to be chosen”. 

“The only way our community gods could accept the appointment of a new person as a chief priest is upon the death of Henry Ghartey ” the source explained. 

The incident was also confirmed by a member of Henry’s family who also pleaded for anonymity but added that Henry’s action has brought big shame to the family.

Why will Henry convert to Islam knowing clearly that he is the first child of his father and for that matter the heir apparent to the priesthood of our area, he quizzed angrily. 

He however pointed out that even though he doesn’t support the idea of killing Henry to pave way for a new person to be chosen, majority of the family and community leaders are in support and have endorsed the idea since that’s the only thing that can appease the gods.

According to him “the gods are angry and the only way to appease them is either for Henry to accept the role or he be killed in order for a new person to be chosen “.

On whether he knows the whereabouts of Henry since he absconded from the area, he responded that non of the family is aware of where he fled to, but was quick to add that he could have  fled to the Greater Accra Region but  was not sure which part of the region . 

The anonymous family member noted that he is not sure of what next now that Henry had fled the area and he is either not sure if he (Henry) could return to the community anywhere soon or at al.

“Henry Ghartey has now been declared a wanted and a traitor by both the family and community leaders and that his life could be in grave danger anytime he returns here” he emphasized. 

He maintained that if only Henry is within Ghana, he would be surely fished out to face severe torture and punishment.

The family and community leaders felt a stab in the back by Henry’s actions for what they termed as turning his back at them at a crucial moment and have vowed to punish him severely for towing that unfamiliar line.

By: Fati Sunna Tahiru