Prophetess, APC parliamentary candidate Remanded for Killing Ex-Headmaster in Gold Scam
A Prophetess and a parliamentary candidate have been remanded into police custody over the alleged abduction and murder of Mr. Eric Obeng Darkwah, a respected educationist and traditional leader who formerly served as Headmaster of Dampong Senior High School and Adontenhene of the Nyaboo Traditional Council in the Ashanti Region.
The accused — Prophetess Elizabeth Darkwah, General Overseer of the King Solomon Universal Temple International located at Suame Anomangye, and Mubarak Mohammed, a parliamentary candidate for the All People’s Congress (APC) — appeared before the Kodie District Court in the Afigya Kwabre South Municipality on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and murder. The case is being presided over by Her Worship Madeline Thompson.
According to police prosecutors, the late Mr. Obeng Darkwah was lured into a fraudulent spiritual scheme in 2024 after Prophetess Darkwah convinced him that she possessed the power to help him retrieve ancient family gold buried by his ancestors. She allegedly took an undisclosed sum of money from the deceased to carry out the so-called spiritual intervention.
As part of the deception, the Prophetess invited Mr. Obeng Darkwah to her church for a “purification ceremony.” However, police investigations have revealed that the ceremony was a ruse to lure him into a trap.
During the purported ritual, Mubarak Mohammed, along with three other unidentified accomplices, allegedly abducted Mr. Obeng Darkwah on the church premises. He was later murdered—a crime police believe was premeditated and carried out to avoid refunding the money or fulfilling the false spiritual promise.
The two suspects were arrested in separate police operations on June 9 and June 17, 2025. They were initially arraigned before the Suame District Court and later transferred to the Kodie District Court, where they have now been formally remanded into police custody. They are expected to reappear in court on July 8, 2025.
Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Police Command has launched a manhunt for the remaining three suspects who are currently on the run. The police have urged members of the public to provide any credible information that may lead to their arrest.
The murder has left the Nyaboo community and the wider education fraternity in a state of shock and mourning. Mr. Obeng Darkwah was not only celebrated for his achievements in education but was also revered for his leadership and dedication to traditional affairs and community development.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Abusuapanin Nana Kwasi Bafoe called for justice to be served without delay. “Eric Obeng Darkwah was a pillar of wisdom and leadership in this family. What has happened to him is heartbreaking. We are calling on the justice system to act firmly and ensure the perpetrators are punished without delay,” he stated.
The deceased’s daughter, Deborah Pokua, also made a passionate appeal for justice. “My father believed he was doing something good for the future of the family. He was deceived, robbed, and murdered. We are not going to rest until justice is delivered,” she said with emotion.
The case has reignited public debate over the growing menace of spiritual fraud and the unchecked activities of self-acclaimed prophets. Community leaders and human rights advocates are calling for stricter regulations on unregistered religious bodies, increased public education, and vigilance to prevent similar tragedies.
The investigation continues.
