To Ghana Together: Back to Busua

I think we've discovered one source of those "Dear Trusted Friend, Please send me your bank account details so that I can deposit 98% of the $2,000,000 of the late Madame Augustina Florencia Bodais into your account..." emails. The discovery occurred on our second trip to Busua beach, where we met the German guy, Ben, who is pictured along with Marina and I, Amy, and two Japanese volunteers Ayu and Toshko in the photo below.

Ben has been to Ghana several times, and he asked if we'd ever visited an Okomfo. He then explained that Okomfos are people that claim to be gods (with a small "g") by becoming possessed by spirits. They then act as a medium between our world and the spiritual world, using their powers to heal, curse, bless, and financially enrich. All at a price, of course. Usually financial gains are the aim of young men who visit Okomfos. These young men are known as Sakawa Boys, and when you strip away the associated rituals and sacrifices, they are basically trained in internet and telephone fraud.

While this is one main service, Okomfos are part of traditional African religion so there is also a significant trade in the placing or lifting of curses. Usually Okomfos will completely cover themselves in white powder when they are possessed by the spirits, and will behave as normal human beings when not. Most put on a public performance of their powers every forty days.

Also while in Busua, we were surprised by a group of Ghanaian salsa dancers that showed up at a restaurant where we were eating dinner, and gave us a free lesson. I snapped the photo below of Marina dancing with another man. A less observant boyfriend may have been jealous, but as you will surely agree, I noted that Marina wasn't enjoying herself all that much.