Regulating the condemnation of witchcraft: ActionAid advocates for legislation to outlaw such accusations against women.
Revamped Article:
In every nook and cranny across the globe, women and girls endure unfathomable discrimination and violations of their basic human rights at every stage of their lives. This issue has been universally acknowledged as a global crisis, dubbed the 'pandemic of gender-based violence' by many, affecting one out of every three women during their lifetime.
A root cause of this violence is a society deeply entrenched in patriarchy and power imbalance, often placing women at a disadvantage, making them susceptible targets. The horrors endured by women—domestic abuse, human trafficking, rape, and harmful cultural practices like child marriage, female genital mutilation, and witchcraft accusation—are pervasive and unrelenting. Despite the fact that anyone can fall victim to sexual and gender-based violence, it is predominantly women and girls who bear the brunt of these crimes.
A World Bank statistic reveals that 35% of women worldwide have experienced either physical or sexual assault at the hands of their intimate partner or a non-partner. Staggering statistics also show that globally, 7% of women have been sexually assaulted by someone other than a partner, while 38% of female homicides are committed by an intimate partner.
In Ghana, statistics collected by the Accra Regional Office of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) indicate that 31.9% of Ghanaian women have experienced some form of domestic violence—physical, economic, psychological, social, or sexual. Furthermore, a report titled "Falling through the cracks" by ActionAid highlights that 71.5% of Ghanaian women who have suffered violence in their lifetime have yet to receive any form of justice.
The sheer expanse of these numbers can send chills down one's spine, as the concerns about personal safety, protection, and access to justice constantly lingers.
Each year since 1991, during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, feminists and women's rights organizations unite in their efforts to amplify their voices in the fight to eradicate gender-based violence. This annual campaign runs from November 25 (International Day Against Violence Against Women) to December 10 (International Human Rights Day).
For the 2022 campaign, the focus is on ending femicide by casting a spotlight on women in our society who are particularly vulnerable to violence. As many advocates concentrate their efforts on other aspects of gender-based violence, this humble author wishes to draw attention to the rampant rights abuses faced by women and girls, especially those in the Northern Regions of Ghana—where the practice of witchcraft accusations is deeply rooted.
In Ghana, and many other African nations, the belief in witchcraft and sorcery is profound. Witches and warlocks are thought to possess supernatural powers that can be exploited to inflict evil or hardship upon others. Diseases, infertility, accidents, property destruction, natural disasters, and fires are often blamed on witches.
The 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana states that every Ghanaian, regardless of their race, place of origin, political opinion, religion, or gender, shall be entitled to the fundamental human rights and freedoms of the individual. However, in spite of the constitution's unequivocal stance on the dignity of all persons, hundreds of women in the Northern Ghana are forced to live in so-called 'witch camps' after being accused of witchcraft and banished from their homes by their families or community members.
The camps, home to approximately 800 women and 500 children, offer meager living conditions and little hope for a better future. The women have fled discrimination, threats, or even mob justice, accused of witchcraft and blamed for 'crimes' such as causing sickness, droughts, or fires, cursing a neighbor, or even just making an appearance in someone's dream. Those fortunate enough to reach these 'witch camps' are by no means assured of a life free from hardship.
Many women have lost their lives to accusations of witchcraft, such as the heartrending 72-year-old woman who was set on fire and killed in 2010 or the 89-year-old Akua Denteh who was brutally lynched in Kafaba in the Northern Region in 2020.
To offer a glimpse into the brutal realities faced by these victims, let us explore the tale of Asana, who was accused of being a witch by her ex-husband. He savagely beat her while she was pregnant and poured melted plastic onto her, accusing her of trying to kill him after he had fallen ill and dreamt that she was doing just that. In desperation, she fled to her mother's home, but her ex-husband followed, assaulting not only her but also her elderly mother and younger brothers. Overwhelmed by the unrelenting violence, Asana's new husband took her to the Gambaga Witches camp,seeking refuge for her 'safety'.
She could scarcely describe the agony she felt when she arrived at the camp, her entire body wracked with pain from the beating and the melted plastic. "When I first came here, my whole body was in excruciating pain," she recounted. "One day, when I was five months pregnant, while I was in the fields with other women, he came after me and he beat me with no mercy."
A careful examination of the phenomenon of witch hunting and witchcraft accusations reveals that the women being targeted are most often those who do not conform to traditional gender norms, such as widows, unmarried women, or those who cannot bear children. In light of these horrific incidents, many other vulnerable women continue to suffer in silence, enduring the weight of abuse without recourse or support. It is a truth that is truly unacceptable and gravely tarnishes our image as a nation founded on the rule of law!
Attempts to address these issues have been made through various means—including passing legislation and direct support for victims, as well as educational and awareness campaigns. However, a comprehensive legal framework remains incomplete due to delays in presidential assent for essential bills. In the absence of specific laws criminalizing witchcraft accusations, many victims lack the necessary legal recourse, leaving perpetrators largely unpunished.
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection currently provides bi-monthly cash grants to more than 800 people living in 'witch camps' to support their welfare. Advocates argue that the government must take further action to improve living conditions in the camps and support the eventual rehabilitation and reintegration of victims into society.
Efforts to challenge entrenched cultural beliefs about witchcraft through education and sensitization are underway, but they have yet to be widespread or fully effective. Organizations such as Songtaba work diligently to abolish 'witch camps' and to ensure that victims are afforded the opportunity to live with dignity in their own homes.
It is essential that we take immediate and decisive action to eradicate this menace once and for all. We owe these women and girls a life of dignity, where they age with grace and not disintegrate in torment. It is our moral duty to muster the political will to address this problem conclusively—we cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the injustices being perpetrated against these women while engaging in unproductive discussions without tangible results! These brutalities must cease! Aging is not a crime, and the barbaric practices of witchcraft accusations, with their accompanying atrocities, cannot be condoned in the name of tradition!
ActionAid is an international organization dedicated to achieving social justice, gender equality, and eradicating poverty. As a Communications Specialist, it is my privilege to contribute to this noble cause.
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