A video has surfaced online showing a Ghanaian mother pleading with traditional deities to spare her daughter, who reportedly fell into a trance believed to indicate spiritual possession, so the child could continue her education without interruption.
Within many African Traditional Religion practices, individuals believed to be overtaken or chosen by a deity are often called to serve as priestesses or spiritual functionaries, a role that can carry significant obligations and, in some cases, interrupt schooling or other aspects of a young person’s life.
The specific location, the identities of those involved, and further details about the child’s circumstances have not been independently verified.
The video touches on a broader and sensitive intersection in parts of Ghana and West Africa more generally, between traditional religious obligations and children’s access to uninterrupted education, an issue that child welfare advocates have periodically raised concerns about when spiritual calling is asserted over a minor.
Watch the video HERE.
