These kinds of stories are always good fodder for discussions amongst the ordinary Ghanaian. In cars, on the streets, you find people seriously debating the issue, trying to outdo each other with new and fresh knowledge of the issue.

One thing that never crosses the minds of these people, somewhat incredulously, is to doubt the authenticity of the entire story. It baffles my mind that people seriously debate the resurrection of someone, and what they might have seen or not seen in hell.

One Kwadjo Peter is the latest to go the afterlife and safely return, and he has a story more incredible than most. Because if he is to be believed, this gentleman actually died twice, spent some time levitating during which he could see straight into hell, then somewhat nonchalantly slipped back into the physical world and went to reconcile with his wife.

The man, with some relatives, as well as his pastor, narrated everything to Peace Fm.

He ‘died’ the first time whilst playing football with some friends, then was sent to the morgue. He somehow managed to revive again, but the attendant handling his body hit him with a stick when he asked for some water, killing him again.

If the corpse I was handling asked me for some water, I’d probably do worse than that.

Anyway this interesting story continues after his second death, upon which he gained the ability to fly in the spirit world. He was calling out to his family but no one could hear him, until he met a bearded man who directed him to follow a narrow path; he could then see straight into the hell fire we’ve been told so much about.

Of its many residents, Kwadjo Peter was able to make out Pope John Paul II, and the ‘King of Pop’, Michael Jackson.

All in all, he spent about a month on ‘the other side’.

His pastor and wife both corroborated his story, the pastor saying he was even the one who officiated at his funeral.

I don’t know what kool-aid these people are drinking, but the chances of all these elements in this fantastical story actually occurring are between slim to none.

I realises whenever stuff like these are raised people say you have to let go of logic and just accept it as one of those things science cannot explain, but a body preserved in a morgue, then buried, cannot just one day arise and start walking around, go reconcile with his wife then go live happily ever after.

We wholeheartedly believe all these things in Africa; as I mentioned earlier people do not even hesitate to doubt the veracity of such ludicrous claims- then we turn around and wonder how come we are so mired in a backwards way of life despite being residents of such a modern world.