18 Superstitions And Beliefs Only Ghanaians Understand

In Ghana, superstitions and beliefs range from practical advice and social decorum to the downright bizarre and bewildering. Always entertaining and sometimes very informative, here are a few common (and some really outlandish) superstitions.

It is a grave insult to give anyone anything with your left hand, as it is the hand traditionally used to clean oneself after using the bathroom

Herbal alcohol bitters cure a host of ailments such as sexual dysfunction and waist pain

The crocodiles in Paga hold the souls of the village’s deceased

When two people say the same thing at the same time, someone is gossiping about them

If you paint your chickens fluorescent yellow or pink, baboons will not attack them

Maame Water, the deity mermaid of the oceans, demands peace during the run up to Homowo festival so no music can be played in the coastal areas

An itchy palm means money is coming your way soon

Whistling at night attracts evil spirits and ghosts

If you sit on a fufu mortar, you will have trouble with penile erections

Itchy feet mean you will be travelling soon

If you sell your soul to the juju man for money, he will come to collect sooner rather than later and you will turn into a goat

Nails should not be clipped at night as they are pieces of your body and can be taken by the spirits to perform evil acts against you

A man will become stupid if he washes a woman’s underwear

Bathing in warm water makes you age faster

If a pregnant woman goes out after 6 pm, the evil eye will harm the baby in the womb

If you stay sealed inside a coffin for a week, you will become rich once you’re out

Walking through cobwebs accidentally is seen as an evil attack on the spirit

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