Human rights advocates and lawmakers in Ghana are calling for stronger legal protections for individuals accused of witchcraft. In many rural areas, predominantly elderly women face severe violence, ostracization, and forced displacement due to witchcraft accusations, often leading to their confinement in designated safe-haven camps. Although parliament previously passed legislation to criminalize witchcraft allegations, the bill requires presidential assent to take effect. Supporters emphasize that formal legal penalties are essential to safeguarding vulnerable citizens and protecting human rights across the country.
- Witchcraft accusations in Ghana disproportionately target older women, resulting in physical violence, social banishment, and loss of property.
- Displaced victims often reside in segregated communities, known as “witch camps,” located primarily in northern Ghana.
- Ghanaian parliamentarians approved a bill to criminalize witchcraft allegations and the operation of witch camps.
- Human rights organizations continue to push for the formal enactment and strict enforcement of the legislation to protect vulnerable populations.
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Ghana needs laws — because superstition shouldn’t decide who suffers
Stop interfering in countries internal affairs.
This situtaion has reduced drastically, almost eliminated. A group of people were prosecuted after they attacked a suspected witch a few yeas ago. No one dared to try it again.
I wonder how this happened at this time.