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Cynicism Toward Political-Occult Rumors

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Occult Rumors and Politics in Ghana

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Abstract

Although some Ghanaians readily accept political-occult rumors, others are suspicious of them and, thus, treat the rumors with cynicism. Those who treat the rumors with cynicism have typically become skeptical of politics in general and blame their sensational reportage by the media. Others are cynical due to their political affiliation, but the public image of a politician can also influence cynical attitudes to occult rumors about them. This chapter will show why some Ghanaians have become cynical of political-occult rumors.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Shibutani, Improvised News, 190.

  2. 2.

    Sefakor, Legon-Accra.

  3. 3.

    Maa May, Nyamekye-Accra.

  4. 4.

    Assimeng, Salvation, Social Crisis and the Human Condition (Ghana University Press, 1995), 5.

  5. 5.

    Rawlings came to power again through a coup in 1981 (his second coup, with the first one been in 1979) as the leader of the Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC) and ruled as the Head of State of Ghana from that time till 1992 when there were calls from the Mainline churches for him to return the country to a democratic rule. He then run on the ticket of the PNDC as the party’s presidential candidate. The name PNDC was changed to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) prior to the 1992 general elections.

  6. 6.

    Maa May, Nyamekye-Accra.

  7. 7.

    I cited this particular rumor in my MA thesis (Pentecostalism and Politics in Ghana), and when I went to the field, Maa May confirmed it.

  8. 8.

    Osikani, Fadama-Accra; Sister Anobeah, interviewed by author, Fadama-Accra, November 29, 2013; Sarpomaah, Fadama-Accra.

  9. 9.

    Sister Anobeah, Fadama-Accra; see also A.R. Gomda, “Rawlings Goes Antoa,” October 23, 2008 http://www.modernghana.com/news/187723/1/rawlings-goes-antoa.html

  10. 10.

    Sister Anobeah, Fadama-Accra.

  11. 11.

    Ghana News Agency, “Serial Killer Arrested,” May 16, 2001 http://www.modernghana.com/news/14127/1/serial-killer-arrested.html

  12. 12.

    Ibid.

  13. 13.

    The Ghanaian Chronicle, “The Furore Over Pres. Kufuor’s Visit To Togo,” February 6, 2001 http://allafrica.com/stories/200102070193.html; Ghanaweb, “The Exploits of Kufuor,” December 2004 http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=70889

  14. 14.

    Yaa, interviewed by Fadama-Accra, November 17, 2013.

  15. 15.

    The Ghanaian Chronicle, “The Furore Over Pres. Kufuor’s Visit To Togo,” February 6, 2001 http://allafrica.com/stories/200102070193.html; Ghanaweb, “The Exploits of Kufuor,” December 2004 http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=70889

  16. 16.

    Raphael Ofori-Adeniran “Prophet Decrypts Nine Graves,” December 4, 2012 http://www.ghanamma.com/news/1/preophet-decrypts-nine-graves/

  17. 17.

    Sister Anobeah, Fadama-Accra.

  18. 18.

    Maa Gee, interviewed by author, Korle Bu-Accra, November 30, 2013.

  19. 19.

    Salaam, Legon-Accra.

  20. 20.

    Aduako, Fadama-Accra.

  21. 21.

    Nana Agyei, Lapaz-Accra.

  22. 22.

    Ibid.

  23. 23.

    Ibid.

  24. 24.

    Lizzie and Joyce, interviewed by author, Lapaz-Accra, February 27, 2014.

  25. 25.

    Nana Agyei, Lapaz-Accra.

  26. 26.

    Philip, Nyamekye-Accra.

  27. 27.

    Aduako, Fadama-Accra.

  28. 28.

    Ibid.

  29. 29.

    Ghanaweb, “JJ dominates Ghanaian media once again,” July 17, 2015 http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/JJ-dominates-Ghanaian-media-once-again-146408

  30. 30.

    Sussy, interviewed by author, Fadama-Accra, February 6, 2014.

  31. 31.

    Gifty, interviewed by author, Legon-Accra, February 19, 2014.

  32. 32.

    Salaam, Ajiringanor-Accra.

  33. 33.

    The Daily Guide, “Kwaku Bonsam speaks on accidents!,” March 13, 2009 https://www.modernghana.com/news/206255/1/kwaku-bonsam-speaks-on-accidents.html

  34. 34.

    Graphic Online, “Criminal libel law repealed,” July 30, 2001 https://www.modernghana.com/news/15786/1/criminal-libel-law-repealed.html

  35. 35.

    Akuffo, Tema-Accra.

  36. 36.

    Kofi Halm, Nyamekye-Accra; Salaam, Legon-Accra; Hassan, Ajiringanor-Accra.

  37. 37.

    Sussy, Fadama-Accra.

  38. 38.

    Akuffo, Tema-Accra.

  39. 39.

    Hassan, Ajiringanor-Accra.

  40. 40.

    Ibid.

  41. 41.

    Hassan, Ajiringanor-Accra.

  42. 42.

    Joshua, interviewed by author, Legon-Accra, February 19, 2014; Hassan, Ajiringanor-Accra; Nana B., Kaneshie-Accra; Kofi Halm, Nyamekye-Accra; Gifty, Legon-Accra.

  43. 43.

    Sarpomaah, Fadama-Accra.

  44. 44.

    Maa Akos, Nyamekye-Accra.

  45. 45.

    Adi, Legon-Accra.

  46. 46.

    Nana B., Kaneshie-Accra.

  47. 47.

    Salaam, Ajiringanor-Accra.

  48. 48.

    Salaam, Ajiringanor-Accra.

  49. 49.

    Nana B., Kaneshie-Accra.

  50. 50.

    Hassan, Ajiringanor-Accra.

  51. 51.

    Mr. Osafo, Adenta-Accra.

  52. 52.

    Ibid.

  53. 53.

    Kofi Halm, Fadama-Accra.

  54. 54.

    Ibid.

  55. 55.

    Akuffo, Tema-Accra.

  56. 56.

    Kwadwo Anim, “Nitiwul proves Mills ‘magic’ ring claim with evidence,” unspecified date http://ghanamps.com/news-events/details.php?id=1074

  57. 57.

    Musah, interviewed by author, Adenta-Accra, November 17, 2013.

  58. 58.

    Ibid.

  59. 59.

    Musah, Adenta-Accra; Nana Kwame, interviewed by author, Ashale-Botwe-Accra, November 17, 2013; Maa Gee, Korle Bu-Accra; Amissah, Fadama-Accra.

  60. 60.

    Nana Kwame, Ashale Botwe-Accra.

  61. 61.

    Ameyaw Debrah, “Our Celebs Mourn Prez Mills,” July 27, 2012 http://www.accra.io/blogs/t/89833/he-john-evans-atta-mills

  62. 62.

    Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, “Is President Mills turning the Castle into a prayer camp?,” March 20, unspecified year http://www.ghanadot.com/social_scene.kunateh.032009.html

  63. 63.

    Salaam, Legon-Accra.

  64. 64.

    Nana Kwame, Ashale Botwe-Accra.

  65. 65.

    Nana Kwame, Ashale Botwe-Accra; Maa Gee, Korle Bu-Accra; Amissah, Fadama-Accra.

  66. 66.

    Nana Kwame, Ashale Botwe-Accra.

  67. 67.

    Maa Gee, Korle Bu-Accra.

  68. 68.

    Kwame Mensah, Nyamekye-Accra.

  69. 69.

    Sussy, Fadama-Accra.

  70. 70.

    CAN, interviewed by author, Lapaz-Accra, November 27, 2013; also see The Holy Bible, Matthew 7:16.

  71. 71.

    Nana Agyei, Lapaz-Accra.

  72. 72.

    Meyer, “Religious and the Secular,” 112.

  73. 73.

    CAN, Lapaz-Accra.

  74. 74.

    Saaka, Legon-Accra.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department for the Study of Religions, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana

    Comfort Max-Wirth

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  1. Comfort Max-Wirth
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Correspondence to Comfort Max-Wirth .

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Max-Wirth, C. (2024). Cynicism Toward Political-Occult Rumors. In: Occult Rumors and Politics in Ghana. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-59807-4_5

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