The government is prioritizing the passage of the Anti-Witchcraft Bill currently before Parliament, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has announced.
Dr. Lartey stated this during a working visit to the Gambaga Witches Camp in the North East Region on Monday, where she interacted with inmates and assessed their living conditions. The camp currently houses 32 women, some of whom have lived in exile for more than three decades.
The proposed legislation aims to criminalise both allegations of witchcraft and the subsequent abuse of accused individuals. Effective enforcement will prove crucial in protecting the fundamental human rights of victims, predominantly elderly women who are banished from their communities.
“The state on its own is also looking at the best way to ensure… the first thing is the law which will criminalize the abuse of their rights and that is what is top of our agenda,” Dr. Lartey said.
She noted that the First Lady has expressed a firm commitment to supporting the residents, with the government actively revising existing intervention programs to improve their overall welfare. The Minister also called for the immediate provision of free medical care to address the pressing healthcare needs of the inmates.
Human rights organisations, including ActionAid and Songtaba, have advocated for years for the passage of the bill alongside the safe reintegration of these women into society. Living conditions across such camps remain a critical concern, with residents frequently lacking access to adequate food, basic healthcare, and essential supplies.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana