Fetish priest arrested over trader’s mutilated body

A 25-year-old fetish priest and herbalist has been arrested by the Homicide Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department over the killing of a trader in the Central Region.

The victim, Joyce Akua Ampongmaa, 40, was from Akweley Kasoa. Her mutilated body was found in a bush at Awutu Bentum.

Police say the body was discovered after the Safohene of Awutu Bentum reported the incident on March 10, 2026.

Briefing journalists on Tuesday, May 12, the Director-General of the CID, COP Lydia Yaako Donkor, said officers who went to the scene found the deceased with her head and both legs cut off.

The remains were taken to the Police Hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy. The body was later identified as that of Ms Ampongmaa.

According to the CID, investigations showed that the deceased had known the suspect before the incident.

Police say she had visited him in 2025 for herbal treatment after developing a swollen leg condition.

She later returned to him on March 4, 2026, allegedly seeking spiritual protection for her business.

COP Donkor said the suspect led her from his shrine into a nearby bush under the pretext of gathering herbs.

There, he allegedly attacked her from behind with a cutlass, killed her, dismembered the body and hid the remains in the bush.

Police say parts of the body were later taken away by the suspect.

During interrogation, the suspect allegedly admitted to the killing.

He reportedly told investigators that he buried the deceased’s head at Mafi Avedo in the Volta Region and the legs at his residence in Awutu Bentum.

The suspect was put before the Adabraka District Court on March 13, 2026, and remanded into police custody.

Police later obtained an ex parte order to exhume the buried body parts.

On March 17, the suspect led investigators to Mafi Avedo, where the head was exhumed and sent to the Police Hospital mortuary.

The following day, he took police officers to the crime scene at Awutu Bentum for a reconstruction exercise.

COP Donkor said the suspect showed investigators the spot where he allegedly attacked the deceased, where he left the body, and a pit where he claimed to have buried blood-stained items.

Police also recovered the deceased’s legs from the suspect’s residence.

Destroyed mobile phones belonging to the victim were retrieved from a nearby bush and a latrine.

The CID said attempts to recover the suspected murder weapon and other exhibits were affected after members of the community demolished the suspect’s shrine and residence following the incident.

All recovered body parts have been deposited at the Police Hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy.

Investigations are continuing.