After passage of the Criminal Offences (Amendment) bill that criminalizes witchcraft accusations, all witch camps in Ghana will be disbanded, according to Francis Xavier Sosu, the MP for Madina Constituency.
He stated that the new law renders witch camps illegal, and steps will be taken by the Ministry for Gender, Children, and Social Protection to reintegrate the individuals currently held in these camps.
The bill, which was passed by Parliament last Friday, criminalizes the declaration, accusation, naming, or labelling of another person as a witch in Ghana.
It also prohibits anyone from practising as a witch doctor or witchfinder.
“The reintegration may take various forms because when we visited the various camps there were some of the camps that are essentially like a home for some of them.”
“So their reintegration may probably be that providing support for them where they are. Others may require that they may go back to their homes,” Francis Sosu said.
He expressed confidence in the Gender Ministry and the Social Protection unit to carry out their mandate and ensure the protection and secure reintegration of those branded as witches into society.
Francis Xavier Sosu, who co-sponsored the bill, sees its passage as a significant step in addressing the longstanding issue of witch accusations in the country.
The passage of this law comes after the tragic lynching of 90-year-old Madam Akua Denteh in 2020, who was accused of being a witch.
In 2021, three Members of Parliament introduced the Private Members’ Bill to amend the Criminal and Other Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) to prohibit the practice by any person as a witch doctor or witchfinder.
They were the MP for Madina, Pusiga, and Wa East constituencies, Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu, Hajia Laadi Ayii Ayamba, and Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw.
