The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has called on President Akufo-Addo to promptly address and assent to the Anti-Witchcraft Bill.
The Anti-Witchcraft Bill, officially known as the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2023, passed by Parliament, seeks to modify the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Acts 2,9) to outlaw the practices of witch doctors or witch finding. It also forbids the act of declaring, accusing, naming, or labelling another individual as a witch.
The Bill was put forward by MP for Madina Francis-Xavier Sosu and other NDC MPs. The bill, which was ratified by Parliament on July, 28, 2023 is viewed as a vital measure in tackling the dangers associated with witch accusations. It aims to safeguard victims and criminalise the act of declaring, accusing, naming, or labelling individuals as witches.
President Akufo-Addo has expressed concerns about the potential financial impacts on the country’s consolidated fund, leading to his decision not to sign the bill. However, in an advisory opinion on the bill to the President on July 1, 2024, CHRAJ observed that the culture of witchcraft accusations and its associated witch camps have tarnished the country’s reputation. It said its dire consequences on the rights of Ghanaian women are beyond debate.
CHRAJ added that it also undermines national efforts towards the realization of the SDGs particularly Goal 5 on gender equality.
CHRAJ emphasised that in a period of constitutional democracy centred on the protection of fundamental human rights and freedoms, the rights of one of society’s most vulnerable groups, elderly women accused of witchcraft, must be prioritised by the state and urgent measures must be taken to protect their human rights and dignity.
The commission thus urged President Akufo-Addo to “take urgent steps including legislative steps that will resolve any constitutional concerns raised by the President in order to assent to the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill 2023 (Anti-Witchcraft Bill) to further enhance the protection of this vulnerable group and the consolidation of Ghana’s human rights record.”
