NGO formulates by-laws to protect alleged witches

A Non-governmental Organization, SONGTABA, has formulated by-laws to protect alleged witches camped at isolated places in four districts of the Northern Region.

The Draft District Assembly By-Laws 2018, when adopted by the assemblies, will stop the inhumane treatment of alleged witches and wizards.

It is also expected to deal with cases such as child or forced marriages and banishment.

The initiative is dubbed, “Securing safety and protection for Women accused of witchcraft,” and it is being sponsored by STAR-Ghana with funding from DANIDA, UKaid and the European Union.

The Gushiegu, East Mamprusi, Yendi and Nanumba South districts host the alleged witches.

Executive Director SONGTABA, Hajia Lamnatu Adam at the presentation of the document in Tamale appealed to the various assemblies to lead the promotion of justice delivery for the ostracized women.

“The draft by-laws seek to prevent witchcraft accusations and how to protect the victims in the event of the accusation. Witchcraft accusations have become both regional and a national phenomenon, and it has become worse in the Northern Region because of the designated witches camps where banished women are housed.”

“Even though some efforts have been made by some organizations such as Star Ghana and the Ministry of Gender at the camps, there are still issues that we need to worry about. In the first place, food, access to potable water and shelter is a major challenge in the camps, so we need to seriously work with the communities to halt the inflow of women in these camps whilst we also strategize to reintegrate those who are also in the camps back home” she added.

Hajia Lamnatu commended the Gonja Traditional Council for supporting the closure of the camp in the Central Gonja District, and the reintegration of the women into their respective communities.

She implored  other traditional areas where there are such camps to emulate the measures and interventions taken by the Chiefs and people of the Gonjaland.

Northern Regional Chairman of the Legal Aid Scheme, Lawyer Issah Mahmudu, said the fundamental human rights of every Ghanaian should be respected.

“The law protects every citizen and no person is allowed to use the allegation of witchcraft to harass, assault, intimidate or destroy the property of another person.”

“People in recent years take the law into their hands to attack or beat and destroy the properties of persons accused of witchcraft. The instance people are victimized through assault or destruction of their properties are offences recognized under the law”.

Mr. Issah advised that suspected witches and wizards should be reported to the Ghana Police Service to investigate such cases.

Witchcraft accusations and child marriages, as well as other forms of human rights abuses, are very rampant in the four districts of the Northern Region.

The Gnani and Kpatinga alleged witches camps are located in the Yendi Municipality, the Kukuo camp in Nanumba South, the Gambaga camp in East Mamprusi, and the Nabuli camp in the Gushegu Municipality.

An estimated 300 alleged witches, mostly aged women, live in these five camps, and their only source of livelihood or survival is through the benevolence of philanthropists and charity organisations like SONGTABA.

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah | citinewsroom.com | Ghana

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