BILLBOARDS, YOUTH, UNEMPLOYMENT AND SUPERSTITION IN MAMFE-AKUAPEM, GHANA

Abstract

ON A SUNNY DAY OF MAY 1983, A SECTION OF THE YOUTH OF MAMFE-AKUAPEM IN SOUTH-EASTERN GHANA- REEKING HEAVILY OF ALCOHOL, ARMED WITH MATCHETES AND PICKAXES AND ANGRILY SINGING WAR SONGS, DRUMMING AND DANCING, WENT TO THE RESIDENCE OF NANA AMA ANSAA SASRAKU III. THEIR MISSION WAS SIMPLE. THEY WERE TO INFORM HER OF THEIR PLANS TO DEMOLISH THE BILLBOARD WHICH WELCOMEED MOTOIRISTS AND VISITORS TO THE TOWN. ACCORDING THEM, THE BILLBOARD WAS INHABTED BY AN EVIL SPIRIT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GENERAL INCIDENCE OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE ABSENCE OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE TOWN. THE TURN OUT OF EVENTS IN THE FOCUS OF THIS PAPER BASED ON ETHNOGRAPHIC RESEARCH AND SUPPLIMENTED BY ARCHIVAL AND SECONDARY SOURCES.