Accra: Amnesty International Ghana has made a compelling call to the government for immediate action to protect and compensate individuals accused of witchcraft. The organization highlighted the plight of hundreds who have been forced to flee their communities due to fear for their lives following accusations and ritual attacks.

According to Ghana News Agency, a study by Amnesty International Ghana conducted between July 2023 and January 2025 found that ninety-three individuals accused of witchcraft were residing in four camps. Of these, eighty-two were women, predominantly aged between fifty and ninety. Despite the Ghanaian parliament passing an Anti-Witchcraft Bill in 2023, which criminalizes declaring or accusing someone of witchcraft, the bill has not yet been signed into law.

At a news conference held on Monday, April 14, 2025, Ms. Michele Eken, a Senior Researcher at Amnesty International West and Central Africa Regional Office, elaborated on how witchcraft accusations often originate within families and subsequently spread through communities. She explained that such accusations are typically triggered by tragic events, such as death or illness, and are frequently directed at older women living in poverty or with disabilities due to gender stereotypes or claims of bad dreams about them.

Ms. Eken emphasized that while belief in witchcraft is protected under international law, the harmful practices arising from such beliefs are not. She stressed the necessity for protection and reparations for those affected.

Additionally, Madam Genevieve Partington, the Country Director, criticized the state’s failure to create an environment conducive to the investigation and prosecution of witchcraft-related violence. She noted the government’s shortcomings in providing adequate food, safe housing, and clean water in the camps, as well as insufficient health services for women with serious health conditions. Partington urged authorities to pass legislation specifically criminalizing witchcraft accusations and ritual attacks, along with implementing protective measures for potential victims.