Source: lastingimpactonline.com
For some days now the saga about Archbishop Charles Agyin Asare and his comments about Nogokpo as being the demonic headquarters of the Volta Region made some rounds and generated intense emotions from people from all walks of life, with different opinions floating around looking for whoever to hear.
I have had the opportunity to listen to different angles. Some made sense to me and others were just sheer emotional reverberation. I write to make my submissions from different angles with great respect to the parties involved.
One of the reviews I listened to this was that of Mr. Paul Adom Otchere of the Good Evening Ghana program. He gave a constitutional dimension to the issue that made a lot of sense to me. His submission summarized that the Archbishop erred constitutionally in labeling Nogokpo as the demonic headquarters of the Volta Region and at the same time the leaders of Nogokpo have no constitutional right to summon the archbishop to the point of threatening him. I will drop a link so you listen for yourself.
Now when matters of this nature arise, we are quick to give it a religious or tribal tone depending on where you sit. The person reading this article is likely to think that since I am an ordained minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I must wholly support the Archbishop. For me this is far from support or no support; let’s look at some issues.
Firstly, it is unfortunate that the statement made on the pulpit has generated such vibes. Unfortunately, because some people are behaving as if this view of Nogokpo has not been there for ages. The way this matter is being stretched leaves much to be desired. I am looking for a Ewe man or woman who will look me in the face and convince me that the notions about Nogokpo, whether true or false, have not been there since time immemorial. Even among ourselves (am I a proud Ewe man) don’t we have this notion amongst us, labeling people because of the part of the Anlo land they come from? This is what I call selective hypocrisy.
I understand that the Archbishop is a big fish with a big platform so the notion goes wider than if a common man says it on the street. But at the same time, I beg to opine that the scene people are creating as if the name Nogokpo has not always had ‘weird’ connotations is unfortunate. Is it not true that even among we ourselves we fail to separate the people from the deity? How many indigenes of Eweland even know that the god in question is called Torgbui Zakadza?
For me, I rather want to dwell on the sociological implications of the statement made and see what we can start doing as a people. As I said earlier, the people of the Ewe land have faced a lot of stereotypes for years as fetish and entrenched in black power. The sociological implications are that the people from Nogokpo will face more stereotypes in the field of work and their social life in general. For example, the young man who is looking for a job in Accra or Kumasi may be considering writing a different town as his hometown to secure a job.
My publisher Mr. Saviour Agobah recently told me about a young and competent gentleman who was denied a job just because he comes from the Volta Region. They don’t doubt our competence but the fear that almost every man is a fetish is a real issue among non-Ewes. What about marriage? The hardworking and godly young lady from Nogokpo could lose a suitor all because her father hales in Nogokpo. This is unfortunate.
So, for me, let the argument be along these lines, if the people of Somey traditional area want all Ewes to stand with them and not about threatening with the god of thunder.
Another angle to this is politics. I know you will disagree with me but let it be clear to you that the politics of the morning is different from the politics of the night. We are already hearing rumors that people are looking up to the NDC to intervene. If it is true, let’s see how it goes. The MP for the area has already added her voice for an apology from the archbishop. The General Secretary of the NDC has also added his voice to the matter. But the truth is that Nogokpo as a community has no political weight.
The difficulty, however, also is that the NDC as a party gels pretty well with the Archbishop, having appeared on his platform a couple of times. So, there is not much they can do unless they do the politics of the night where they go and give some cash to the elders to tone down their actions. I know you don’t believe this but don’t rule it out. Another angle is that no intelligent politician will want to speak against the archbishop on this matter. Not when the majority of the people in the country claim to be Christians.
Now, the big question: is Nogokpo the capital of demons in the Volta Region? The last time I checked the spiritual power I have, it is nowhere close to that of the Archbishop, and for me as a person I don’t know the demonic headquarters in the Volta region.
But let me explain a little bit about world views; every man’s viewpoint is influenced by his worldview. Your philosophy, your thinking, and your behavior are supposed to be influenced by your WORLDVIEW. When matters on worldviews are raised, there is a clash of emotions because belief is a strong force.
The Christian worldview of which I belong without any regret, has a point of view about idol worship and any deity that is involved in any form of ritual that involves blood sacrifices. As far as the Christian stance is concerned, any deity in which sacrifices are still a form of ritual and worship is demonic. This viewpoint is based on the fact that the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross is supposed to be the last sacrifice.
1 Cor 10:20
“But I say, that the things which the pagans sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with demons.”
People in the African Traditional Religion also have their worldview and they affirm it with every strength they have.
In Conclusion, let the people of Nogokpo ( which means, will you stay in Peace?) and Anlos for that matter change the narrative. Let people know that Torgbui Zakadza (the god of thunder) is the deity and not the people.
Let people know that Nogokpo has more than twenty churches and the message that Christ has been received by the people.
Instead of dissipating our energies in insulting and threatening the Archbishop, let it be known that the people of Nogokpo have been suffering the stigma of this notion before the comment by Archbishop. Even after this issue dies down, the notion will still be there if we don’t change the narrative.
As a footnote, it should be clear that non-Ewes are not less fetish than Ewes. Even though I desire that my people should become Christians, there is one thing I like about my people; they are transparent with what they worship. It is true that when you move around southern Volta, most towns and old houses have idols in front of them. I see it as transparency. If you go to other places, their small gods are in their bedrooms and they are hypocritical about what they worship. They come to church on Sunday and they are with the diviner on Monday… this is also unfortunate.
The threat given to the archbishop is in bad taste. Torgbui Zakadza indeed has some form of power but it won’t have any effect on the Archbishop. That I can tell you.
Some of the elders even went ahead to compare the god of thunder to the God of Isreal. Well, let’s see how it goes. (ze wu ze……)
If any of our traditional authorities or non-Christians make an anti-Christ comment about Jesus or the Christian faith, (which some do anyway) are you sure Christian leaders will summon such a person and threaten him? No.
I have made my submission, you are free to disagree because opinions are like onions, everybody has a layer of it.
Until then, let the people of Nogokpo enjoy the publicity and let the media keep cashing in on this matter until another breaking news arrives. ebe Ghana we dey! Click here lasting Impact tv to listen to Adom Otchere’s submission. Please subscribe to my channel
Don’t Forget that JESUS IS LORD
For the love of God, society, and young people
Blessings.
Rev Seth Kunkpe
penfromafar…..writing to make things right
