Gd. Gedeh: Witchcraft Torturing Not True—Supt. Bailey

The Superintendent of Grand Gedeh County has dismissed allegations that a prophet is torturing and ill-treating citizens he claimed to be involved in witchcraft activities in Gbarzon district.

Chris Bailey told the New Dawn that he visited the area to ascertain the facts and discovered that the information was not true, but rather misleading.

The Coordinator of the Liberia Democratic Institute in the county raised an alarm on Wednesday, stating that Prophet Papa John was violating the rights of some of the citizens based on claims that they were involved in witch craft activities.

However, Superintendent Bailey said the man in question, was operating a church in Gbarzon District called Celestial Church with headquarters in Nigeria, and not involved with the hunt for witchcrafts as was reported.

The Grand Gedeh County Superintendent said during his investigation, Papa John said that he cut the hair of some of those visiting his church to release demonic spirits from them.

Meanwhile, a Liberian journalist in the county has disclosed that  as a result of fear of the presence of the Superintendent, the people of Gbarzon District  could not reveal the true picture of the situation.

Solo Kelgbeh noted that he has never seen the church of the so- called Papa John, but only seen him going around Grand Gedeh, professing to be a prophet that could un-cover witchcraft activities. He narrated that during the investigation in the presence of Superintendent Bailey, Papa John did not display the letter, he said, was in his possession from the county administration to pursue wizards in the county.

Solo Kelgbeh said the superintendent was misled by leaders of the district and did not get the correct information that he needed.

Recently, it was reported that a self-styled prophet was in the district identifying alleged witchcrafts.

The citizens’ action came at a time the Gbarzon Statutory District Superintendent Henry Zohnway, was calling for the establishment of a witchcraft court, saying, the practice of witchcraft activities also known as voodoo was rampant in the district.
Prophet Papa John, according to the Gbarzon Statutory District Superintendent, has identified twenty persons allegedly responsible for the backwardness of the area and deaths of several youngsters through witch activities.