The Akyem Kotoku Traditional Council has fined the Birim Central Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Solomon Kusi Brako, GHS2,000, a sheep and bottles of schnapps after he invoked traditional curses against the Member of Parliament for Akyem Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, over allegations linking him to illegal mining.
The council’s ruling also includes traditional rites aimed at reversing the curses, underscoring the seriousness with which it viewed the incident and its potential impact on the community under customary law.
Category: News
What Happened: Traditional Council Imposes Customary Sanctions
The dispute began after Solomon Kusi Brako publicly performed a traditional ritual to invoke curses while rejecting allegations that he was involved in illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey. During the ritual, the MCE directed the curses at Alexander Akwasi Acquah, accusing the MP of making or spreading the allegations against him.
The ceremony quickly sparked widespread public debate, with many questioning whether public officials should resort to traditional spiritual practices to settle political disagreements.
The Akyem Kotoku Traditional Council subsequently intervened to examine the matter under customary law. After hearing the issues, the council imposed customary sanctions on the MCE, ordering him to pay a fine of GHS2,000, provide a sheep and bottles of schnapps to the traditional authority.
As part of its ruling, the council also constituted a committee of traditional elders to carry the prescribed items to a nearby river to perform customary rituals intended to reverse the curses and avert any potential calamity. According to the traditional council, the rites form part of the customary processes required to restore harmony following the invocation of the curses.
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Information Gain: What The Traditional Fine Means
Under many Ghanaian customary systems, fines involving cash, livestock and schnapps are intended to restore harmony after conduct considered disrespectful or capable of disturbing communal peace. Such sanctions are distinct from criminal or civil court penalties and do not amount to a conviction under Ghana’s statutory laws.
Similarly, customary cleansing or reversal rites are rooted in traditional beliefs and are conducted to symbolically nullify curses or restore communal peace. Their significance lies within customary practice and should not be confused with legal proceedings under Ghana’s courts.
Why It Matters: Traditional Authority Meets Political Disputes
The case highlights the continuing influence of traditional authorities in resolving disputes involving political office holders, particularly in communities where customary institutions remain central to local governance.
It also underscores the sensitivity surrounding illegal mining allegations, which continue to dominate national discussions because of their environmental, economic and political implications.
The dispute between the MCE and the MP attracted significant public interest because it combined political rivalry with traditional practices rarely seen in disagreements between senior government officials.
What Is Next: Expected Developments
Attention will now turn to whether Solomon Kusi Brako complies with the customary sanctions imposed by the Akyem Kotoku Traditional Council, including payment of the fine and provision of the required items for the cleansing rites.
The committee of traditional elders is expected to carry out the river ritual in accordance with the council’s directives. The ceremony is intended, under customary belief, to reverse the curses and avert any misfortune that the council believes could arise if the matter is left unresolved.
Neither the council’s ruling nor the customary sanctions prevent any separate legal or administrative action should new evidence emerge regarding the underlying illegal mining allegations. Unless such proceedings are initiated, the council’s decision is expected to bring the customary aspect of the dispute to a close.
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