As part of our Heritage month series, we present to you, Nogokpo. A small tourism village in the Volta Region which is shrouded in mystery because of the notion associated with it.
The mere mention of the name Nogokpo may send shivers down the spines of many.
Nogokpo means “stay in peace.” However, you cannot access the entire township freely. There are areas that you cannot enter with your shoes or sandals. I changed my clothing at this point
Is there any name in Ghana more feared and dreaded like Nogokpo? Probably not. But what is in Nogokpo and why does society dread the mere mention of the name?
Nogokpo, to many Ghanaians is the name of a famous deity somewhere in the Volta region of Ghana. But is that all there is to the name?
It is the name of a small town in the Ketu South Municipal of the Volta region. It is along the Trans-West African Coastal Highway. However this small town is one of the most feared places in Ghana because of the presence of a famous shrine located in it .
According to the history of the town, the shrine came to the village after a heated misunderstanding between the townsfolk and their then chief, Torgbui, in the early 1900s. Since then the shrine has become their spiritual protector offering them protection against evil spirits. It also resolves differences and offers justice to the aggrieved and cheated.
The Fear
Incidents of crime such as stealing is almost non-existent in the small town. This is due to the fear that the gods would punish them severely, especially in cases where the victim consults the shrine and demands for the thief to be punished severely.
The town may not be a huge tourism destination due to the fear that it strikes people. However, there are a few brave ones who occasionally make the trip to Nogokpo. They go to have a closer look at the shrine that imparts such fear to all and sundry.
The very few who have gone to have a look at the famous shrine have spoken highly of the townsfolk. Feedback suggest a very friendly and warm people. This may be the time to finally kill your curiosity and go have a look at the shrine that makes men shiver at the mere mention of its name.
Story adapted from myjoyonline
