Occultism story at Wey Gey Hey false : Board Chairman
The Board Chairman of the Wesley Girls High School at Cape Coast in the Central Region, The Most Reverend Titus Kofi Awotwi Pratt has condemned three media houses for publishing what he says are false claims against the school.
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Starr FM, United Television (UTV) and The Ghanaian Times this week claimed some 22 students of the school had been nabbed by school authorities for practicing occultism.
But according to The Most Reverend Pratt, who is also the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church of Ghana, it was unfortunate for the three media houses to carry on with such a report without making any effort to verify its truthfulness from school authorities.
“Interestingly, none of the above media approached the authorities of Wesley Girls High School for any information whatsoever before putting the story in the public domain," a statement he signed and issued Wednesday, said.
“We write to place it on record that the school authorities and the Board are disappointed at the extent of falsehood in the publications as the school authorities are unaware who these 22 girls mentioned in the story are, when the alleged induction ceremony was held for some of the girls in the school initiating them into the occultly sect and who their supposed lead in the school is”, the statement said.
He assured parents, guardians and Old Girls and well-wishers of the school to be calm as steps were underway to unearth the mischief behind the publication.
Below is the full statement by the Board Chairman, The Most Reverend Kofi Awotwi Pratt
STATEMENT BY THE BOARD CHAIRMAN OF WESLEY GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL – THE MOST REVEREND TITUS KOFI AWOTWI PRATT
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Our attention has been drawn to a number of unfortunate publications and raging discussions in the media alleging that school authorities at Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast have recently “nabbed” twenty-two (22) students for belonging to an occultly sect and engaging in occultism.
The named source of this April 11, 2016 publication in question titled “Occultism at Wesley Girls: 22 students nabbed”, was Starr Fm. UTV on April, 2016, also aired the said story while other media houses subsequently joined the fray with some commentaries and/or insinuating pieces.
It is most regrettable that the Ghanaian Times newspaper, one of the oldest and respected newspapers outfits in the country, also joined the bandwagon. Interestingly, none of the above media approached the authorities of Wesley Girls High School for any information whatsoever before putting the story in the public domain.
We write to place it on record that the school authorities and the Board are disappointed at the extent of falsehood in the publications as the school authorities are unaware who these 22 girls mentioned in the story are, when and where the alleged induction ceremony was held for some girls in the school initiating them into the occultly sect and who their supposed leader in the school is.
To even state in one breath that the said girls have been handed over to the Methodist Church in Cape Coast, and in another that when the Methodist Church in Cape Coast was contacted, they knew nothing about the matter, shows how spurious the story is.
Even more spurious is the claim that a current student of the school emphatically stated that occultism is prevalent in Wesley Girls High School and has been in practice for the past 23 years.
We wish to assure all parents, guardians, old girls and well-wishers that appropriate steps are being taken to unearth the mischief behind this cowardly attempt by the above-named media to tarnish the hard won and enviable reputation of our esteemed school.
Be assured that being a school built on the solid pillars of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, with strong Methodist tenets, the watchful eye of the school authorities and the Board will ensure that at all times the traditional discipline, hard work and moral uprightness that have contributed in no small measure in producing some of the illustrious female leaders in our dear country Ghana and beyond, will not be compromised.
SIGNED CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD THE MOST REV TITUS KOFI AWOTWI PRATT (PRESIDING BISHOP OF THE METHODIST CHURCH GHANA) 13th April, 2016