A ‘Spirit child’ killer in Namoo in the Bongo District of the Upper East region, Mr. Abilah Abangna, has told a1radioonline.com that he is a changed man and now a prayer warrior who advocates against the killing of children with certain disabilities.
The ‘spirit child’ phenomenon which has existed in some parts of the Upper East region in the northern part of Ghana since 1975 is a cultural practice whereby children born with deformities are seen as what they describe as ‘spirit child’. These children are killed with the belief that they come with curses and killing them ride the family of the curse.
However, Mr. Abangna who has been killing these innocent children throughout the years tells a1radioonline.com he was engaging in the act out of ignorance but has been introduced to the light through Afrikids Ghana.
“I have stopped killing children because of Afrikids, I am now a changed person so I don’t kill children again and they have taught me why I should not engage in such devilish act. They have taught me that those children were as a result of sickness. Not only me, I am now in a group called Right to life Promoters, we do go for meetings in Bongo to talk against such sinful act, I am now even a Christian praying seriously for God’s forgiveness and I know that God have forgiven me and now I am free”.
Mr. Abangna noted that life after quitting the killing of ‘spirit children’ has been very fruitful with the support of Afrikids Ghana which has provided him with planting seeds, a bicycle, and goat to rear.
On his part, Kessena Nankana Area Programme Administrator of Afrikids Ghana, Mr. Mathew Abangna said with the support of the Commonwealth Foundation, Afrikids has been in the Bongo District for 3 years working hard with the people together with the Ghana Education Service (GES), Ghana Health Service to fight against the phenomenon with the introduction of Child Right Festival.
Mr. Abangna believes that with thorough sensitization in the various communities that engages in such evil practice, the fight against killing of ‘spirit children’ will be won.
By: Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen/a1radioonline.com/Ghana
