Ghost gives Lotto Numbers in Dream and something Happened.
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, John Manu Israel, a 46-year-old lotto vendor and barber from Essianimpong near Ejisu in the Ashanti Region, met an untimely demise on February 26, 2017. The unfortunate incident occurred when he was struck by a hit-and-run taxi driver while attempting to cross the road near the Kumasi Children’s Park bus stop at Amakom.
John had just finished rendering accounts of the day’s lotto sales to his master at Old Amakom and was heading back to his shop, which was a mere 30 meters away from the Justice Hotel in the Afful-Nkwanta area of New Amakom.
As he made his way back, heavy rainfall engulfed the area. Despite the downpour, John managed to safely cross the first two lanes of the road from the Adum direction and stood on the median pavement. However, tragedy struck as he tried to cross the second double lane toward the Children’s Park. A taxi, speeding from the Anloga junction direction of the dual-carriage road, collided with him.
Left to his fate amidst the pouring rain, John lay on the ground, bleeding profusely with multiple cuts on his body. It wasn’t until a couple of hours later, after the rain subsided, that someone discovered him lying in a pool of blood by the roadside. The alarm was raised, and an ambulance from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Hospital was summoned. John was swiftly rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Accident and Emergency Unit for treatment.
Tragically, the following morning, John’s relatives received the devastating news of his passing when they hurriedly arrived at KATH. Survived by his wife, Yaa Boatemaa, a petty trader at Afful-Nkwanta, and four children, John’s loss was deeply felt by his family and the community.
Three weeks after his untimely demise, an extraordinary occurrence unfolded. Akosua Adutwumwaa, the wife of one of John’s friends from Ejisu, arrived in Afful-Nkwanta on a Monday morning with a startling revelation. She claimed to have seen John in her dream the previous night, where he gave her GH¢6,000 to be handed over to his wife for lotto stakes. The intention was to raise sufficient funds for a befitting funeral ceremony.
Acquainted with John’s “stand-by” numbers, a set of numbers he regularly played, the friend decided to wager on 70-24-38-7-79, with 70-7 ultimately matching the drawn numbers. The win was substantial, but Yaa Boatemaa, the widow, refused to participate in the lotto despite the encouragement.
However, the following day, Akosua Adutwumwaa informed her husband once again about a dream encounter with John. This time, John appeared displeased that his wife had disregarded his previous instruction. He appealed to his friends to urge his wife to partake in the lotto, ensuring she had the means to cover the expenses of his funeral rites.
Motivated by the previous day’s victory, John’s friend gave Yaa Boatemaa GH¢50 to use for the lotto stakes. She wagered only GH¢5 out of the provided sum and played the numbers 6-60-36-67-86, with 6-60 being the drawn combination. The news of the “ghost numbers” spread like wildfire in Amakom and Asafo, prompting a frenzy of eager individuals rushing to nearby lotto kiosks to partake in the phenomenon.
Long queues formed in Afful-Nkwanta, Amakom, Asafo, and Ejisu as people eagerly bet on the “ghost numbers” before the day’s lotto sales concluded at 5 p.m. Unfortunately, none of the numbers matched the drawn combination on the third day, resulting in significant losses for the anxious gamblers.
Numerous lotto agents reported exceptional sales on Wednesday, taking advantage of the “ghost numbers” and the resulting panic staking to generate profits for themselves and their superiors. However, many individuals, including elderly men and women, as well as schoolchildren who had borrowed money from friends and relatives to participate, suffered financial losses.
The aftermath of the event revealed that over two days, more than GH¢600,000 was won by various individuals engaged in the “ghost number” frenzy. The largest single winning amounted to GH¢60,000. As a consequence, some private lotto agents in the Amakom area were forced out of business due to the substantial payouts.
Despite the excitement and monetary gains for some, it was a time of counting losses for many others. On Thursday morning, a distraught 54-year-old petty trader named Madam Afia Nyamesem was found near the Amakom market, weeping uncontrollably after losing her entire GH¢150 capital. Her business was now in jeopardy.
Lotto agent Mr. Yaw Owusu Ansah shared that if the third number had matched, the agents and lotto operators in the area would have faced significant difficulties in covering the winnings due to the staggering sales volume.
The burial and final funeral rites of John, known as Diago, were scheduled for April 6 in Essianimpong within the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality of the Ashanti Region. The story of Diago’s tragic fate, the ghost numbers, and the subsequent frenzy left a lasting impact on the community, reminding everyone of the unpredictable and sometimes devastating consequences that accompany the world of lotto.
