The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has issued a renewed plea to Parliament to swiftly pass the long-awaited Anti-Witchcraft Bill, warning that further delays could lead to more cases of abuse and violence linked to witchcraft accusations, particularly in rural communities.
According to CHRAJ, the enactment of the bill would not only save lives but also serve as a powerful reaffirmation of Ghana’s dedication to human rights, dignity, and justice.
Speaking at a forum on Wednesday, July 23, to mark the fifth anniversary of the brutal lynching of Akua Denteh in the Northern Region, CHRAJ Commissioner Joseph Whittal joined voices with civil society organisations in pressing for urgent legislative action.
“The bill is long overdue,” Mr Whittal asserted.
“Why don’t you allow the bill to pass, and then anybody who thinks there is a basis for challenging it can take it to the Supreme Court? We now have another president who, interestingly, comes from the very region where most of these witchcraft accusations are reported.”
The call comes in the wake of a deeply troubling incident in Anhwiesu, Central Region, on 22 July, where an 11-year-old girl and three elderly women were accused of engaging in spiritual attacks.
The girl, a primary six pupil, was allegedly accused by a classmate claiming to possess supernatural powers. According to reports, the classmate alleged that the girl had spiritually “tied” two other pupils and colluded with the older women to harm a teacher.
A community-organised exorcism followed, during which a fetish priest declared he had “seen” the girl’s spiritual deeds.
The child was compelled to undergo the ritual, while the elderly women, insisting on their innocence, refused to participate.
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