Police Uncover Multiple Human Remains at Shrine in Central Tongu

Police in the Volta Region have uncovered multiple human remains at a shrine in Gblorkope, a community in the Central Tongu District. The discovery is linked to the suspected ritual killing of a 28-year-old man who had been missing since December last year.

The operation was carried out by the Homicide Unit of the Ghana Police Service based in Ho. Officers were accompanied by three suspects during a search of the shrine, where the body of the missing man, Nelson Anyana, was found buried beneath idols.

Police also uncovered the skeletal remains of other unidentified bodies buried under different idols at the shrine. In addition, various human body parts were also uncovered in nearby bushes. Investigators disclosed that the location may have been a spot for a series of ritual killings.

Six people have been arrested and charged in connection with the case. They are:

• Augustina Fiawoyife, an unemployed woman;
• Wisdom Hedidor, a herbalist;
• Courage Bedzo, a kente weaver;
• Gblor Noah, also known as Ekpedzi, a 37-year-old fetish priest;
• Gblor John, a 38-year-old security guard;
• and Gblor Johannes, a 27-year-old lottery writer.

The last three are brothers and are believed to be behind the operations of the Gblorkope shrine.

According to police, the case began when Comfort Hatse, a trader and mother of the deceased, reported her son missing on December 17, 2024. She told investigators that Nelson left home on December 4 to meet Augustina Fiawoyife and never returned.

Investigations later revealed that Augustina was in a relationship with Wisdom Hedidor. Police believe Hedidor became jealous of her ongoing contact with Nelson and plotted to have him killed. He is said to have involved Bedzo and Augustina in the plan.

Around the same time, the shrine’s fetish priest, Gblor Noah, reportedly asked for a human body to be used for ritual purposes in exchange for money. Bedzo passed this request on to Hedidor, who agreed to carry it out.

On December 12, police say Augustina lured Nelson to a quiet spot near DC Bungalow in Adidome. While he spoke with her, Hedidor and Bedzo attacked and strangled him. Augustina reportedly witnessed the killing but did nothing to stop it.

Later that day, the body was sold to the fetish priest for GH¢7,000. He arrived at the scene with his younger brother, Johannes, and the two transported the body to the shrine. It was used in rituals and then buried beneath one of the idols.

All six suspects have been charged and appeared before a District Court in Ho. They face charges of abetment of crime to wit, murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Meanwhile, police say forensic tests are being carried out on the other remains found at the shrine to identify the victims and determine whether more people were involved.

The Ghana Police Service says it is committed to ensuring justice is served and has assured the public that the case will be thoroughly investigated.