16 Days of Activism Observed in Tamale With Call on Chiefs, Assemblies to Protect Allege Witches

Naa Yakubu Abdulai

Secretary to the Alleged Witches Network in the Northern Region of Ghana, Ruth Aloriwer, has called on traditional authorities, government and district assemblies to put in bye-laws for their total protection. 

Accordingly, she is demanding that women living in all 5 witch camps must only be encouraged to return home after a sensitive and comprehensive programme of reintegration involving the women themselves, camp chiefs and opinion leaders in the women’s home communities.

The government of Ghana, she stated, must not rush into disbanding the camps, but develop a detailed roadmap in consultation with all stakeholders including allege witches, religious and traditional leaders, priests and the communities of origin of the alleged witches.

Madam Aloriwer read these statements contained in a petition she presented to the Paramount Chief of the Sagnarigu Traditional Area, Naa Yakubu Abdulai in the Sagnarigu District of the Northern Region during the global commemoration of 16 Days of Activism.

She urged District Assemblies to make it illegal to accuse people of witchcraft and ensure the safe reintegration of the women, and their dependents, into any community of their choice.

The belief in witchcraft or sorcery is widespread in many communities in Ghana but very pervasive in the Northern Region. Undisputedly, majority of people have strange beliefs that they associate with witchcraft in this part of the country including witches and wizards having the ability to fly in the night, walk upside down, eat human flesh, torture people out of envy, inflict people with incurable ailments, kill their enemies, turn into vampire bats, spark fire during night out and among others. 

The hateful attitude of majority of the people in this region towards suspected witches who are mostly old illiterate poor women led to the creation of what many call “witches’ camps” many decades ago. 

These old frail women usually face death penalties or banishment from community members and relatives who out of sheer ignorance and anger, accuse them of spiritually killing a relative or causing misfortunes in their families.

Currently, there are five witches’ camps dotted across remote and poor communities in the Northern Region. The camps are Gnani and Kpatinga camps in the Yendi Municipality, Kukuo in Nanumba North District, Gambaga in East Mamprusi District and Nabuli in the Gusheigu District.

Three hundred and forty (340) old women alleged to be witches live in these camps with the Gnani camp having 131 women, Kukuo, 68, Kpatinga 41, Nabuli 34 and Gambaga 66.  Between 2010 and 2017, about 198 women have been facilitated by the Alleged Witches Reintegration Committee to go back home and live peacefully with their families and communities.

The women, although safe and secured in their respective camps, life is difficult for them, as lack of food, potable water, conducive accommodation and clothing is a major concern to them. They depend solely on the benevolence of charity organisations in order to get food to eat and clothes to wear.

From the 25^th of November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to 10^th December, Human Rights Day, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign is a time to galvanise action to end violence against women and girls around the world. 

The international campaign originated from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute coordinated by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership in 1991.

Hajia Lamnatu Adam

Across Ghana and of course, across the world, various human rights organisations choose different issues which are topical to them for continued advocacy on this particular day. In the Northern Region, Songtaba, one of the leading organisations campaigning against witchcraft accusations, child marriage and other forms of violence, commemorated the day in honour of the Paramount Chief of Sagnarigu.

With funding support from STAR-Ghana and UKAID, DANIDA and the European Union, the event brought together various chiefs under the Sagnarigu Paramountcy, members of the Alleged Witches Network, School Children and representatives of some nongovernmental organisations.

According to the Executive Director of Songtaba, Hajia Lamnatu Adam, the commemoration of the day was held at the Palace of the Sagnarigu Chief because he supported initiatives that were geared towards the empowerment of women and young girls as well as practices against their rights.

She appealed to the traditional leaders and other stakeholders to protect women and young girls who are vulnerable to witchcraft accusations and early or forced marriages.

Meanwhile, Naa Yakubu Abdulai commended Songtaba and STAR-Ghana for organizing the event to highlight the concerns of women and the various forms of rights violations perpetuated against them by relatives and communities.