Accra: A coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) has called on President Nana Addo Dunkwa Akufo Addo to sign the Anti-Witchcraft Accusations Bill (AWAB) into law. The NGOs, which include Sanneh Institute, ActionAid Ghana, Amnesty International (AI) Ghana, Oxfam in Ghana, Songtaba Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Ghana, Crossroads International, Ghana Somubie, International Alliance Against Witch hunts, and LAWA Ghana, have united in this cause.
According to Ghana News Agency, during a press conference organized by AI in Accra, Rev. Professor John Azumah, Convener of the Coalition, emphasized that signing the AWAB would enhance the protection of human rights and align Ghana with international human rights obligations. He highlighted that Ghana remains the only country in the world with witch-camps, and signing the bill would demonstrate the country’s commitment to eradicating all forms of gender-based violence and discrimination.
Rev. Azumah elaborated that the Anti-Witchcraft bi
ll was developed in consultation with various stakeholders, including the Attorney General’s office and the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ). He stated, “We are joining our voices to CHRAJ and other reputable national and international bodies to call on the president to sign the bill into law.” The coalition urges the President to urgently assent to the AWCAB, which was unanimously passed by Parliament in July 2023, to protect vulnerable Ghanaian citizens, including widows, mothers, grandmothers, and sisters.
The coalition expressed concern that the President’s failure to sign the bill should not be the final stance on this critical issue. They emphasized that victims of witchcraft accusations often have no voice or support within their families and communities, making the state their only hope. They believe that accusations and witch-hunting are the root causes of the victims’ untold suffering.
Rev. Azumah described the practice of witch-hunting and accusations as harmful, noti
ng that mere accusations can break up families, destroy lives and livelihoods, and impose a generational stigma and suspicion on families. Madam Genevieve Partington, Country Director of AI Ghana, added that in many parts of the country, especially rural communities, elderly women are unfairly targeted and accused of witchcraft. These accusations often stem from deep-seated superstitions and cultural beliefs that have persisted for years.
Partington noted that once labeled as witches, these women face physical abuse and even death at the hands of vigilante justice. She stated, “Witchcraft accusations continue to tear society apart, perpetuating gender-based violence and denying women their fundamental rights to dignity, security, and equality.”