Parliament urged to expedite legislation as advocates reveal seven women lost their lives to witchcraft accusations last year alone
A high-level interfaith dialogue in Accra has reignited national calls for the urgent passage of the Anti-Witchcraft Bill, with lawmakers and civil society warning that continued delays are costing the lives of vulnerable women across the country.
The event, organised by Songtaba in partnership with OXFAM in Ghana to mark International Women’s Day 2026, brought together religious leaders,Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Members of Parliament, Human Rights Advocates and State Institutions under the theme “Give to Gain: Accelerating Gender Justice.”
“We Are Shirking Our Responsibility”
Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour, Mr Francis-Xavier Sosu, Member of Parliament for Madina and human rights lawyer, delivered an impassioned address that set the tone for the dialogue, issuing a stark warning to his colleagues and government.
“I don’t believe we must continue this way,” Mr Sosu told the gathering. “If every man in Ghana is actually born of a woman, and you have a grandmother in your home, then you shouldn’t be offended when we say that we are shirking our responsibility. We are not showing leadership. We are really not committed to the protection of women and vulnerable women in our country if we do not take urgent action on this bill.”
The Madina MP, who first sponsored the bill as a private member’s initiative in the Eighth Parliament, emphasised that the proposed legislation now enjoys broader support, with over 12 MPs backing it, including Madam Zuwera Ibrahimah, MP for Salaga South, who was present at the event.
“Every single woman that dies again whilst this bill is pending in Parliament, their blood will be upon all of us,” Mr Sosu declared. “Why should we not take action? Why should we not show leadership? It is just taking too long.”
He expressed hope that the Minister for Gender would present the bill before Cabinet for onward submission to Parliament, but served notice that if the executive fails to act, private members would ensure its passage nonetheless. “After all, it was a private bill that got passed in the Eighth Parliament. So if every member of parliament is committed to this, we should pass this bill. What would it take for us to criminalise witchcraft accusation in Ghana? This bill can pass within one week.”
Seven Lives Lost in One Region Alone
Hajia Lamnatu Adam, Executive Director of Songtaba, set the context in her welcome address, revealing disturbing statistics about the prevalence of witchcraft accusations and their deadly consequences.
“Last year alone in the North East Region, about seven women lost their lives due to witchcraft accusation. Several others had their property burnt in the Northern Region,” Hajia Adam disclosed.
She explained that the phenomenon disproportionately affects the most vulnerable members of society. “A lot of the time, people ask, are men never accused? Yes, sometimes men are, but mostly those that are accused are women—very aged, very fragile women. Most of these women are widows with no education, very little income.”
The Songtaba Executive Director noted that the fear of witchcraft accusations casts a long shadow over the lives of elderly women in many communities. “In our interaction at the community level, when you interact with women, one of the biggest fears they have is growing old in our communities because of the deep-seated belief in witchcraft.”
Four Camps Still in Operation
Despite significant progress in recent years, including the closure of the Bonyasi camp in 2014 and the Nabuli camp in 2019, Hajia Adam confirmed that four alleged witches’ camps remain operational across the Northern and North East Regions.
These include the Gambaga camp in the North East Region, which is the most well-known, and three camps in the Northern Region: the Gnani Tindan camp in Yendi Municipality—described as the largest of them all—the Kukuo camp in Nanumba South District, and the Kpatina camp in Gushegu Municipality.
According to updated figures provided at the event, 131 women currently reside at the Gnani Camp, 78 at the Gambaga Camp, and 20 at the Kpatinga Camp.
Hajia Adam acknowledged the progress made through sustained advocacy, noting that collaborative efforts with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) have led to the successful reintegration of about 220 accused women into communities of their choice. However, she stressed that the work remains far from complete.
“While we acknowledge the important progress that has been made, we believe that a more sustainable and long-term solution lies in legislation that criminalises witchcraft accusations and protects survivors, whilst promoting an inclusive society free from injustice and inequality.”
A National, Not Regional, Problem
Madam Thelma Hayford, Programme and Policy Manager for Gender Justice and Social Inclusion at OXFAM in Ghana, challenged the narrative that witchcraft accusations are confined to northern Ghana, describing it as a national issue that demands national attention.
“Witchcraft accusations are often framed as a northern Ghana problem, but the reality is different. The accusations may be more visible in the north, but the beliefs and the stigma that fuels them exists across the country,” Madam Hayford stated. “What happens in one part of Ghana ultimately reflects on the nation as a whole.”
She noted the contradiction between Ghana’s international image and the persistence of the practice. “Ghana is widely recognised as a stable democracy and a champion of human rights on the African continent. The presence of a female vice president in the leadership of the country is itself a powerful sign of progress in women’s political representation. Yet the persistence of witchcraft accusations against vulnerable women sets a stark contradiction to that progress and continues to affect the image of Ghana internationally.”
Madam Hayford explained that the dialogue formed part of the Gender Transformative Actions and Social Inclusion Project (GTASIP), implemented by OXFAM with support from OXFAM America, which seeks to advance gender justice while addressing violence, discrimination and exclusion.
A Call for Collective Action
The interfaith nature of the dialogue was particularly significant, Hajia Adam noted, because faith traditions carry considerable moral authority in Ghanaian communities.
“When faith leaders speak with one voice in support of justice, compassion and protection of the vulnerable, real transformation becomes possible,” she said. “Today’s dialogue provides a platform for reflection, learning and collective commitment. It is an opportunity to explore how religious teachings and cultural values can promote peace, dignity and protection for women, rather than their marginalisation.”
MPs and civil society representatives emphasised that the bill, once passed, would not automatically end witchcraft accusations but would provide a crucial legal framework for advocacy and protection. “The truth is that law is a tool for social engineering,” Mr Sosu explained. “The Bill will not automatically cease the practice, but it gives a legal framework within which advocates and people who are in the forefront to deal with this issue will begin with. In the first place, for people even living in the village, hearing that it is inappropriate and is illegal to declare somebody as a witch is a starting point.”
What the Bill Seeks to Achieve
The proposed Anti-Witchcraft Bill seeks to criminalise witchcraft accusations, prohibit witch-hunting practices including forced exorcisms, and outlaw the operation of alleged witch camps. It also provides for comprehensive support systems for survivors, including psychosocial assistance, legal remedies, and programmes aimed at safe reintegration into their communities.
The legislation mandates state institutions to prevent, investigate and prosecute acts of violence or discrimination arising from witchcraft allegations, in line with Ghana’s constitutional guarantees of human dignity and personal security.
Madam Zuwera Ibrahimah, MP for Salaga South and Vice Chairperson of Parliament’s Gender, Children and Social Protection Committee, emphasised that concerns about administrative or financial implications should not override the state’s responsibility to protect its citizens. She also highlighted how even schoolgirls are not spared, revealing that some young girls who excel academically, particularly in mathematics, have been branded as witches simply because of their achievements—a situation she described as discriminatory and destructive to national development.
A Century-Old Injustice
The practice of banishing accused women to camps in northern Ghana dates back more than a century. Amnesty International research has documented how accusations typically begin within families or communities following tragic events such as illness or death, with older women living in poverty, those with health conditions or disabilities, and women who do not conform to stereotypical gender roles facing the greatest risk.
In some cases, accusers base their claims on having had bad dreams about a person. One resident of Gnani camp told Amnesty International: “My neighbour said he dreamt that I was trying to kill him. He doesn’t want me [in the community], that’s why he accused me.”
Another resident of Kukuo camp observed that successful women are often targeted: “They always have plans of putting allegations against you, especially if you are hardworking and are still strong and doing well as a woman.”
The camps themselves offer shelter but often with inadequate living conditions. Women report struggling with leaking roofs, limited access to healthcare, and insufficient food. One elderly resident of Kukuo camp lamented: “I miss a lot from home. I had everything. I was harvesting shea nuts. Now, if someone doesn’t feed me, how would I eat?”
The Path Forward
As the dialogue concluded, speakers urged participants to move from deliberation to decisive action. Hajia Adam reminded the gathering that gender justice is a societal responsibility, not merely a women’s issue.
“When women live free from fear, discrimination and violence, our families become stronger, our communities more resilient, and our societies move closer to true justice,” she said. “We encourage all participants to engage openly, respectfully and constructively in today’s discussion. Your insights, experience and perspective are essential in helping us move from dialogue to meaningful action.”
Madam Hayford reaffirmed OXFAM’s commitment to the cause, stating that the organisation would continue to work with partners, coalitions and national stakeholders to ensure that advocacy on the issue remains strong, visible and sustained “until the conditions that allow inflow into the witch camps are addressed.”
Hon. Sosu captured the urgency of the moment, invoking the shared humanity that should compel action from every Ghanaian. “If every male born of a woman is committed to this, if the Speaker of Parliament is committed to this, if everyone who has a mother, who has a grandmother, is committed to this, we should pass this bill. Everything we are committed to do, we will be able to do.”
The Interfaith Dialogue on the Anti-Witchcraft Bill was held in Accra as part of activities marking International Women’s Day 2026, bringing together stakeholders including the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, CHRAJ, the Coalition Against Witchcraft Accusations (CAWA), CSOs, and representatives of various faith traditions.
By Kingsley Asiedu
