Amnesty International has recently highlighted the precarious situation faced by hundreds of elderly women in northern Ghana, forced into “witch camps” due to accusations of witchcraft. In a detailed report titled “Branded for Life: How Witchcraft Accusations Lead to Human Rights Violations of Hundreds of Women in North Ghana,” the organization underscores how misogyny and harmful stereotypes lead to severe human rights violations.
These accusations, often based on mere dreams, illness, or deaths within communities, have displaced more than 500 individuals, primarily women between the ages of 50 to 90, forcing them to live in informal camps with inadequate facilities. These camps, some existing for over a century, lack essential services such as food, healthcare, and clean water, and are overseen by local religious leaders.
An urgent plea has been made for the Ghanaian government to criminalize these accusations and provide sustainable support for those affected, as noted by Amnesty’s Michèle Eken. Despite legislative attempts, such as the bill passed by Ghanaian Parliament in July 2023 aimed at criminalizing witchcraft accusations, procedural hurdles have stalled its enactment, as President Nana Akufo-Addo has yet to sign it. Amnesty insists these issues be resolved urgently to ensure justice and protection for the victims, urging the new administration under President John Mahama to prioritize this legislation.
According to Amnesty Ghana’s Country Director, Genevieve Partington, tackling the crisis requires a thorough approach that not only involves law-making but also addresses the social stigma and provides reparations and societal reintegration for these women. For a comprehensive understanding, the full article is available here.