Nogokpo temple to unmask killers of Anloga chopbar operator as family resorts to thunder god

A month after security agencies failed to uncover the gruesome murder of a popular chopbar operator at Anloga in the Volta Region, the family of the deceased has decided to engage the thunder god at Nogokpo, Togbi Zakadza, to help unveil the culprits behind the crime.

Consequently, the family has obtained the permission of the Dufia of Anloga and Dome Fiaga of the Anlo State, Togbi Zewu IV, to beat the gong-gong to inform the community about their intention to find the perpetrators of the dastardly act through a kind of ‘trial by ordeal’ at the Nogokpo Yewe traditional temple.

Related article: Anloga: 60-year-old chopbar operator killed in suspected robbery incident

In a response to this request in a letter dated January 19, 2025, Togbi Zewu wrote: “I received your letter requesting me to grant you permission to beat gong-gong at Anloga town as a condition of Yewe Shrine at Nogokpo to begin their spiritual search”. 

“The purpose of beating the gong gong is very necessary because it is a way of making the town aware of your intention of seeking spiritual intervention from the Yewe Shrine of Nogokpo”.

Crafted under the headline, RE: the Tetteh and Ametewe Family of Anloga, Togbi Zewu declared: “My chiefs and I are in full support of this announcement in the town to make everybody aware of your next plan of action in search of the perpetrators of this crime — the brutal murder of Mad. Dorcas Korkor Tetteh. Your permission is, therefore, granted.”

Revered sanctuary

The Nogokpo Shrine in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region is considered one of the most powerful traditional temples in the country. 

Nogokpo, a small town near Agbozume and about 16 kilometres to Aflao, is shrouded in mystery because of the number of patrons who seek interventions from the Yewe shrine, making it a fierce force to reckon with. 

Many people also visit the shrine to seek justice from the gods when they feel treated unfairly or wronged.

Over the years, the mere mention of Nogokpo sends shivers down the spines of many.

Zakadza is not the legal modern court of justice, but a spiritual deity that is believed to dispense justice and exact punishment on the perpetrators of any crime, particularly the heinous ones such as murder.

Traditional priest

Speaking to the Daily Graphic from Nogokpo yesterday, a priest at the shrine, Dogbatsey Tengey, said  Zakadza was more active and potent now than before without any signs of losing its potency.

On the operations of the shrine,  Togbi Tengey said when families of victims of a crime approached the shrine, rituals would be performed after which emissaries would be deployed to beat the gong gong for the perpetrators of the crime to willingly turn themselves in for justice to be served.

Togbi Tengey said in the unlikely event that those who committed the crime did not confess to their crime, the family would report back to the shrine for another ritual to be performed and the gong-gong beaten for the second time. 

After that second effort to solicit self-confession, the wrath of the god would begin to visit the criminal and his or her family.

“In fact, if the god strikes this time, it can destroy a whole family, including the extended ones,” Togbi Tengey explained.

Awadada

The Awadada (War Lord) of Anlo, Togbi Agbesi Awusu II, told the Daily Graphic that he had been duly informed by the chief of Anloga of his permit which granted the emissaries of the Zakadza god to undertake that important spiritual exercise, adding that “this step is to complement the investigations being carried out by the police.

He said even in the Western world, the security employed the assistance of spirits and deities to unravel mysteries surrounding crimes such as this.

Togbi Agbesi Awusu expressed the hope that the perpetrators of the heinous crime would be apprehended and called on residents to cooperate with the traditional authorities and the police in that direction.

Background

Dorcas Korkor Tetteh, 60, the operator of The Base Chopbar, was found lying lifeless on the floor in her room at Anloga, Dornorgbor in the wee hours of Saturday, December 28, last year.

The chopbar operator was killed in a suspected robbery incident gone bad.

Preliminary information from neighbours indicates that the suspected armed robbers attacked and killed the chopbar operator in the night.

The Presiding Member of the Anloga District Assembly, Joseph Kpattah, said Madam Tetteh had returned from church service the previous night.

He said when her workers arrived on Saturday morning, it was detected that the metal bars in her windows were removed, while the windows and doors had been left open.

On entering her room, she was found lying on the floor lifeless with bruises all over her body.

A report was made to the police who came to convey the body to the morgue for further action.