News
Superstition at K’dua Market …traders reject smaller denomination
Money
In the busy markets of Koforidua, a unique tradition has taken root among some traders.
As they set up their stalls each morning, a number of these vendors refuse to accept smaller currency denominations.
It is the belief of these group of traders that starting the day with such small transactions would affect sales and not make any profit.
This superstition, shared by traders in other markets throughout the region, has become a habitual practice that influenced their customer interactions and financial management, particularly in the early hours of trading.
For these traders, whether the day would be profitable or not depends on the first transaction. If the initial transaction involved smaller denominations, they feared it would set a negative trend for the day, leading to insufficient earnings.
To avoid this perceived misfortune, they turn away customers offering smaller bills or coins, preferring to wait for those with bigger denominations.
Madam Phyllis Boateng, a trader who believes in this superstition, explained to The Spectator that while the practice might seem irrational to outsiders, she firmly believes in the spiritual implications of money.
“We don’t only engage in commercial sales; we also believe that money has spiritual effects, and your small amount can negatively affect my sales. Some customers might feel offended, but I think they can find alternative shops to buy from,” she said.
Aside the belief about the size of denominations, Madam Priscilla Zilevu, another trader, has taken additional measures to also protect herself from bad luck.
She mixes garlic and pepper with her money, believing that this would ward off negative effects on her sales.
“Sometimes the source of the money the customer is using to buy from you is not a good one and can drain you financially, so you have to protect yourself from some of these things,” she explained.
Not all traders share this belief though as Dora Appiah-Kubi, who does not believe in these, recounted her experiences with other traders who refuse small denominations for their first sales.
Even taxi drivers, she noted, sometimes refuse exact fares like GH¢4.50 when starting their day, preferring larger notes.
However, a local preacher, Pastor John Amponsah, in Koforidua, Densuano, said the belief was fascinating, emphasising that the Bible does not support such practices.
“Even though many describes money as spirit and the trader not knowing the source of it, I believe it is more about how that money was used,” he said.
Pastor Amponsah said some Christian traders adhere to this superstition and pointed out that there was no biblical basis for the position of the market women.
Instead, he advised traders to accept all kinds of denomination and pray over them, citing Proverbs 10:22: “The Blessing of the Lord maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow,” and the story of Jesus commending the woman who gave the least offering as examples to follow.
He urged traders to abandon this practice, accept all forms of currency, and place their faith in God’s provision, rather than succumbing to superstitious fears.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman
News
Abu Trica’s extradition case: Prophets, fetish priests demand pay for spiritual solution …Lawyer reveals
Mr Oliver Barker-Vormawor, a lawyer for embattled Frederick Kumi, affectionately called Abu Trica and has made a shocking revelation over the behaviour of some members of the clergy.
According to him in a post on social media, the difficult part of Abu Trica’s trial is not the law but the number of ‘Men of God’ and fetish priests demanding financial sacrifices to help resolve the matter spiritually.
Oliver Barker-Vormawor posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2026, “The most difficult part about the Abu Trica case; is not the law.”
He continued: “It is the number of, prophetesses, evangelists and fetish priests, who have called or messaged to ask us to pay for spiritual solutions.”
It would be recalled that in March this year, the Gbese District Court dismissed a preliminary objection filed by Abu Trica, challenging the extradition proceedings initiated at the request of the United States.
The court, presided over by Anna Akosua Appiah Gottfried Anaafi Gyasi, in its ruling held that the offences forming the basis of the extradition, particularly wire fraud, constitute extraditable offences under the 1931 treaty between Ghana and the United States.
He was then given 15 days counting from March 27 to appeal the decision of the court or be surrendered for extradition to the US.
Against this backdrop, he was on Tuesday, April 22, granted a bail in the sum of GH¢30,000,000 by an Accra High, pending the appeal of his extradition
Mr Kumi was arrested in Ghana in December 2025 following an indictment by United States authorities, alleging that he played a role in a romance scam network that defrauded elderly American victims of more than $8 million.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
News
From panic to pass: how parents, teachers can help children beat BECE, WASSCE exam phobia- Part 1
Walk through any Junior High or Senior High compound in Ghana as BECE or WASSCE approaches and you will see it.
A bright girl suddenly quiet. A boy who led class debates now sleeping at his desk. A Form three student with stomach pains every Monday morning.
This is not laziness. This is academic stress. When left unaddressed, it hardens into exam phobia-overwhelming dread that pushes children into burnout, avoidance, and sometimes silence.
As a mental health professional who sits with these children and their parents at Counselor Prince & Associates Consult (CPAC) in Adenta Oyarifa-Teiman, I see the pattern clearly.
Research confirms it. Putwain and Daly (2014) found that high test anxiety predicts lower grades independent of ability. Zeidner (1998) showed that chronic academic pressure raises cortisol, weakens memory recall, and increases school dropout risk. The brain under fear cannot retrieve what it studied.
Understanding the storm: What academic stress really looks like
Exam phobia is not just “being nervous.” It shows up as headaches before mocks, sudden anger when books are mentioned, night-time insomnia, or perfectionism that ends in blank scripts.
Some children over-study until 2 a.m. and forget everything by 9 a.m. Others avoid books completely, scrolling phones instead. Both are distress signals. Dr Kenneth Ginsburg, a paediatrician specialising in adolescent resilience, notes: “Stress is not the enemy; feeling alone with stress is.” Too many Ghanaian children feel alone with it.
The home front: How parents and couples become safe havens, not extra pressure
The first antidote is at home. Structure beats shouting. Set a predictable study slot-same time, same place, with water and a light snack. Then protect sleep like you protect school fees. A tired brain fails faster than an unprepared one. Use the “15-minute start rule”: “Just sit for 15 minutes. If you still can’t, we close and try after a walk.” Often, starting is the hardest part.
Couples must watch their language. “Don’t disgrace us” plants fear. Replace it with “We see your effort. What part feels hardest today?” Praise process, not only position: “You revised three topics and asked for help—that is maturity.” Research by Dweck (2006) confirms that process praise builds resilience while outcome praise increases anxiety.
For caregivers, check your own anxiety. Children borrow our nervous system. If BECE makes you panic, they will panic. One parent grounds—keeps meals, prayer, and bedtime steady. The other pivots—talks to teachers, adjusts timetables, arranges counselling. Both protect rest. An empty cup cannot pour calm.
Resources
– Counsellor Prince & Associates Consult (CPAC): Award-winning Clinical Mental Health and Counselling Facility, accredited by the Ghana Psychology Council.
– School-Based Support: Speak to Guidance & Counselling units, or licensed school counsellors. E.g. Counsellor Blessing Offei – 0559850604 (School Counsellor).
– Contact CPAC for Parent Coaching/Counselling & Student Therapy: 055 985 0604 / 055 142 8486
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