The quiet community of Tokokoe in the Ho Municipality is grappling with shock and superstition after a 55-year-old man, identified as Galley Kofi, was fatally struck by lightning.
The tragic incident occurred on Thursday evening, June 20, around 6:30 pm, and has since left the deceased’s body unattended outside his home due to cultural and spiritual beliefs.
Galley Kofi was in his room with his girlfriend when a sudden and powerful lightning strike struck him, resulting in his immediate death.
The rare and shocking nature of the event has plunged the community into a state of fear and superstition. According to Adom News’ Volta Regional correspondent, Odehyeba Owusu Job, the community has not recorded such an incident for nearly a century, leading to speculations about spiritual connotations surrounding Kofi’s death.
Raymond Kporvu, the Assemblyman for the Tokokoe Electoral Area, explained that the community believes specific rituals are necessary to appease the gods before the body can be moved. “The last lightning strike in this area happened almost a hundred years ago, so the community sees this as more than just a natural occurrence,” Kporvu said.
Despite the arrival of a team of Police personnel and officials from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to assess the situation, the removal of the body has been delayed. Some family members requested more time to consult a shrine and perform the necessary rituals. As a result, as of Sunday morning, June 23, Galley Kofi’s body remained outside his home.
The delay has raised health concerns within the community due to the decomposing body. Assemblyman Kporvu expressed his worries about the potential health hazards posed by the situation. He assured that plans were in place for a fetish priest to perform the required rites later in the day, allowing the body to be moved to the morgue by the end of the day. “We understand the spiritual and cultural practices, but we must also consider the health risks. We are committed to ensuring the body is removed today to prevent any potential health issues,” Kporvu stated.
The Tokokoe community remains in a state of apprehension as they await the completion of the rituals and the subsequent removal of Galley Kofi’s body.