In Wiaga, located in the Builsa North Municipality of the Upper East Region, three pastors are in police custody after violently assaulting a traditional priestess, allegedly over religious differences.
Journalist Castro Senyalah reported that Sakinatu Issahaku, the priestess from the Sichaasa community, was aggressively confronted by two pastors from the Jesus Family Church in Sandema. They sought to forcibly take away her religious idols and convert her to Christianity.
Issahaku resisted their attempts, which escalated the situation. “They took some of my idols and hid them. When I retrieved them, one of the pastors, a white man, pushed me to the ground. I quickly rose, and that’s when he threatened me with a pistol,” she recounted. She further mentioned that after her refusal to their religious proposition, they resorted to violence. “The pastor from Awolinka Church assaulted me violently. He twisted my arm, and I have injuries all over, including cuts on my face, knees, and hands,” she added.
Community members came to her rescue, and she was subsequently taken to the Wiaga Clinic for medical treatment, where she received care for a dislocated arm and multiple bruises.
According to the victim’s account, the violent confrontation began when the pastors, led by a locally known figure named Donatus Asekabta, approached her with an offer to pray for her conversion to Christianity. Her steadfast refusal reportedly infuriated them, resulting in the physical altercation.
The Sandema Police acted on a complaint lodged at their station and apprehended the suspects. The shaken priestess hopes for justice. “I was in my own home when they attacked me. I want the police to handle the case properly and ensure they face consequences for their actions,” she emphasized.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community. Many are grappling with how individuals professing to be religious leaders could resort to such unprovoked violence and even life-threatening actions.
SOURCE: Ghanaweb
