[1973]DLHC2250 • November 19, 1973 • High Court
ADZAKU vs. GALENKU
The plaintiff, Adzaku, was subjected to a fetish called Golokoe by Kwaku Adegbe after allegedly giving false evidence against him. The Kpandu District Court ordered Adegbe to provide drinks and other items for the redemption of the plaintiff's life from the fetish. The plaintiff and Adegbe approached the defendant, the priest of the Golokoe fetish, who set conditions for the ritual. The plaintiff failed to fulfill these conditions, resulting in the defendant not performing the ritual, causing the plaintiff to live in perpetual fear of death. The plaintiff sued the defendant for special damages and an order compelling the performance of the ritual rites.
read moreThis is an appeal from the judgment of his worship F. P. K. Avadetsi, Esquire, District Magistrate Grade II, Kpandu. The judgment was delivered on 4 March 1971. The facts of the case so far as they are relevant to this appeal are that the Kpandu District Court Grade II by a judgment dated 10 April 1970 ordered one Kwaku Adegbe the defendant in that case to provide drinks and other items for the “redemption of the plaintiff’s life from the fetish called Golokoe.” Kwaku Adegbe had sworn the fetish on the plaintiff because the latter had given false evidence against him. After the judgment, the plaintiff in the present case and Adegbe went to the defendant, who was the priest of the Golokoe fetish. The priest outlined certain conditions which the plaintiff should fulfil before he performed the ritual. The plaintiff failed to perform his part of the bargain and so the defendant did not abate the possible effects of the fetish. The plaintiff said as a result he was put in perpetual...