End Human Rights Abuses Against Alleged Witches

Dear Cherished Donors!

It is another exciting period of reporting to our cherished donor on the progress of our work. Over the years, Songtaba has been on the fore front of ending violence against persons accused of witchcraft especially aged women in Ghana. Along the line many individuals and organisations joined the advocacy to create a stronger voice to push the agenda forward.

More evidence and fact about the negative effects of this practice have been generated through research that have been widely published by Songtaba in both local and internal journals. All these available data and facts have been leveraged on by some members of Ghana Parliament to join the advocacy and leading through parliament a private members bill to amend Ghana criminal offences act to include criminalization of witchcraft and any person holding himself out as a witch doctor. After several processes, the parliament of Ghana agreed and pass the amended criminal offences act. This new law is still awaiting presidential assent to enable if full enforcement.

Songtaba recognizes this great progress and have since been using varied platforms including the media to sensitize the general public about the new development. This progress has been possible through the continuous advocacy with the support of everyone donating their resources towards this course of ending violence against persons accused of witchcraft.

On the occasion of International Rural Women’s Day, Songtaba joined the world in marking this day by creating awareness about the new law against witchcraft accusations and its implication if a person is found guilty of it. The celebration brought together traditional leaders, religious leaders, women, men and the youth to end gender-based violence.

It offered the communities members, camp leaders the opportunity to appreciate the tenants of the law which seeks to prohibit the practice of any person as witch doctor or witch finder to prescribe the declaration, accusation, naming or labelling of another person as witch.

Some family members of women who has been accused of witch craft could not hide their excitement and shared their thought on how the bill could go a long way to protect individuals who are accused of witch craft.

Adisah who’s mother was accused of witch craft because of her age share her happiness: Am really happy about the bill, this will go a long way to protect elderly women such as my mother and many other women whose rights have been violated for some time now. She added that, the bill will help to reduce the number of inmates in the camps if not eliminated.

A chief in one of the communities during the engagement said that, it has really been an eye opener to them and that, they will support it because every human being has the right to have decent living conditions such as water, food and accommodation. He added that, they will support the implementation of the bill.

Thank you for reading.