Ghana: Amnesty International urges authorities to pass the Anti-Witchcraft Accusations Bill

Vatican News.

Amnesty International says Ghanaian authorities must no longer delay protection of hundreds of victims unjustly accused of practising witchcraft.

Right to life

“On 23 July 2020, 90-year-old Akua Denteh, accused of being a witch, was lynched to death in front of a crowd of people in her home village of Kafaba, in the Savannah Region, in Northern Ghana. The two women who were seen beating Akua in a video were sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2023 for manslaughter. Hundreds of other women who have been accused of witchcraft have been forced to flee their communities, fearing for their lives,” said the Amnesty International official.

Quoting some of their partner organisations in Ghana, Amnesty International says Akua’s case is just one of the heart-wrenching examples of the dire consequences of witchcraft accusations. Rights organisations and well-meaning citizens in Ghana say the accusations infringe upon a person’s right to life, to security, and to non-discrimination -hence the need to criminalise the accusations.

Suffering and violence

Witchcraft accusations usually start within the family or among community members, following a tragic event such as an illness or a death. Older women living in poverty, with health conditions or disabilities, are at greater risk of being accused. Equally vulnerable are women who do not conform to stereotypical gender roles.

While the belief in witchcraft is protected under international law, harmful practices that stem from the belief are not, and those impacted need protection and reparations.

Amnesty International says Ghana’s parliament passed the Anti-Witchcraft Accusations Bill in July 2023. The bill sought to make it illegal to accuse individuals of witchcraft, establish protective measures and support systems for those who have been accused, and provide a clear legal pathway for victims to seek justice and compensation. It was not signed into law by former President Nana Akufo-Addo, who cited constitutional concerns, as it was introduced as a private member’s bill, instead of a government-owned bill. Since then, no bill has been reintroduced to parliament.

A holistic approach

The rights group also urges Ghanaian society to delve deep into the root causes of the accusations. The organisation is encouraging a more holistic approach that would comprehensively address issues leading to the accusations.

“Criminalising witchcraft accusations alone would not resolve the issue. While some sensitisation initiatives have been conducted by NGOs and at the local government level, they are not enough to comprehensively combat stereotypes linked to witchcraft accusations.”