Amnesty International Raises Alarm Over Rising Witchcraft Accusations in Ghana, Demands Swift Government Action to Protect Vulnerable Women
Hundreds of Ghanaians—mostly older women—are living in fear, facing widespread human rights violations stemming from baseless witchcraft accusations, Amnesty International warned on Monday, April 15, 2025. The global human rights watchdog is urging the Ghanaian government to take immediate and decisive action to criminalize such accusations and provide urgent protection for those affected.
According to a recent report by Amnesty International, many of the victims are elderly women living in poverty, often with physical disabilities or health conditions. These women are routinely blamed for personal or communal tragedies such as deaths, illnesses, or natural disasters. Accusations frequently originate from within families or local communities and often escalate into violent assaults, forced evictions, and even murder.
"These allegations are not only harmful, they are deadly," said Samira Daoud, Amnesty International’s West and Central Africa Director. "Victims are often isolated, banished to so-called 'witch camps,' or subjected to brutal ritual punishments. The government must urgently enforce protection and justice mechanisms to prevent further abuse and killings."
While the Ghanaian Parliament took a significant step in 2023 by passing a bill that criminalizes the act of accusing someone of witchcraft, the legislation is still pending presidential assent. The bill, when signed into law, will make it a criminal offence to accuse, label, or brand anyone a witch—marking a critical step toward eliminating centuries-old superstitious practices that have no place in a modern human rights-based society.
Despite the legislative efforts, Amnesty reports that attacks have continued. In 2020, the brutal lynching of Akua Denteh, a 90-year-old woman accused of witchcraft in the Savannah Region, sparked national outrage and renewed calls for reform. Yet five years later, many women continue to suffer in silence, particularly in the Northern, Upper East, and Bono regions of Ghana, where informal “witch camps” still exist.
Amnesty International is calling on President Nana Akufo-Addo and the Ghanaian government to:
Immediately sign the anti-witchcraft accusation bill into law.
Dismantle existing witch camps and reintegrate victims safely into society.
Provide medical, psychological, and financial support to victims of accusations.
Launch public awareness campaigns to combat stigma and educate communities on the dangers of superstition-fueled violence.
Conclusion:
As the world moves toward greater gender equality and human rights, Ghana finds itself at a critical crossroads. The continued abuse of vulnerable women under the guise of witchcraft accusations not only undermines the country’s legal system but also violates the fundamental rights of its citizens. The time to act is now.
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