Pastor Tracy Reads | Anansi’s Gold: The Man Who Swindled the World by Yepoka Yeebo

June 17, 2026 | Pastor Tracy Troxel

Back in 2008-11, I enjoyed the presence of several Ghanaian’s who attended church with me. I enjoyed their warmth and friendship. I had to endure their very polite trash talking as they rejoiced over Ghana’s victory over the United States in the World Cup. I listened as they described the challenges that their county endured as they attempted to create a thriving independent nation. They described part of their history in a very complicated story that I never fully understood until I read Anansi’s Gold.

This is an incredible story of a massive scam perpetrated on many people. Ghana gained its independence from Britain in 1957. They were the first sub-Saharan African country to gain freedom from its colonial entanglement. Less than 20 years later an elaborate narrative had been created about Ghana’s independence. Dr. John Ackah Blay-Miezah began telling people that the first  President of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah, had access to millions of dollars of gold that he had saved from predatory people. When the time was right, this gold would be released, and Ghana and its citizens would be transformed.

This dream grew until other people all over the world began to invest in this ‘mythical fund’ called the Oman Ghana Trust Fund. This falsehood would shape the early history of Ghana as an independent nation. The lie would ensnare many investors whose lives were ruined by this false narrative.

This story is worth the read simply for the adventure and twists and turns of a great story. But the narrative also reveals the darker side of human nature. It is easy for all of us to believe a lie or want to believe a lie. We can all look for shortcuts to get rich or be satisfied rather than learning the art of patience and contentment. You can critique those who were caught up in the ‘big lie’. Or, more productively, you can evaluate the lies that you believe or want to believe about life.

Pastor Tracy Troxel