Government has served notice of shutting all witch camps scattered across the Northern Region.
Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Otiko Afisah Djaba, gave the hint when she paid a courtesy call on Gambarana Yahaya Wuni, caretaker of the most popularly alleged witches’ camp in Gambaga in the East Mamprusi District.
“It still remains in the plans of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to disband the remaining five alleged witches’ camps in the Northern Region of Ghana.”
“It is inhumane and criminal for anyone to accuse another person of witchcraft simply because that person exhibits certain strange behaviours.”
“The laws would deal with anyone or group of persons found culpable of lynching or causing harm to suspected witches or wizards,” she warned.
She stated, “President Akufo-Addo has been adjudged a gender champion in Africa. He is also co-chair of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It is not right for him to be leading Ghana in the fight against poverty and dehumanisation against children and women whilst in his backyard, there are witches camps.”
“Let’s all join hands and support our President to deal with all negative cultural practices including witchcraft accusations, child marriages, begging on the streets and kayayei [women head porters] among others.”
She indicated that the victims would be reintegrated, empowered with skills training and start-up capital.
The gender minister seized the opportunity to commend the Gambarana for taking care of banished women over decades.
Madam Otiko Djaba presented several bags of rice, canned fish, detergents and a cash amount of GH¢800.00 for the inmates’ upkeep.
She promised to register all of them to benefit from the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme pending the disbandment.
Since 2010, the “Presby Go Home Project” of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana has successfully reintegrated 72 alleged witches into the society.
For his part, Project Manager, Sampson Laar, revealed that there were 70 alleged witches still living in the camp.
Currently, there are five of such camps in the Northern Region with three located in the Gushiegu district.
These are the Gnani, Kpatinga, Kukuo, Naabuli and Gambaga alleged witch camps.
The Bonyase camp in the Central Gonja District was closed in 2014 with 55 inmates liberated from bondage.
The exercise was facilitated by the ministry of gender and social protection in collaboration with Action Aid Ghana, Songtaba and other civil society organisations into women rights advocacy.
Story: Kofi Owusu Tawiah
