Amnesty International calls for action against witchcraft accusations in Northern Ghana

For decades, hundreds of women in northern Ghana have lived in isolation, stripped of their dignity and rights after being accused of witchcraft. These women are often violently banished from their communities and forced into so-called ‘witch camps’ where they face dire living conditions, lacking basic necessities such as food, clean water, healthcare, and shelter.

A new report by Amnesty International, titled “Branded for Life: How Witchcraft Accusations Lead to Human Rights Violations of Hundreds of Women in Northern Ghana”, sheds light on the persistent abuses these women face and the systemic failures that have allowed such injustices to continue.

Speaking at the launch of the report, Human Rights Lawyer and Member of Parliament for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu, issued a passionate call for legal and policy reforms.

He urged the government to go beyond rhetoric and enforce existing laws to criminalize the act of witchcraft accusations.

“We cannot continue to look on while our mothers, sisters, and grandmothers are falsely branded and subjected to degrading treatment,” Hon. Sosu stated.

“The laws of Ghana are clear such accusations are illegal, and it’s time we enforced them. I call on all stakeholders, government agencies, traditional leaders, religious groups, and civil society to support this fight and restore the dignity of these women.”

The Country Director of Amnesty International Ghana, Genevieve Partington, stated the need to close down the witch camps, but not without a thoughtful and humane reintegration process.

“We are calling for the immediate closure of these camps,” she told the media. “But it must be done in a way that ensures these women are not left worse off. There must be a clear roadmap that includes psychosocial support, family mediation, and community sensitization to reunite the women and some men with their families in dignity and safety.”

Amnesty International’s report details harrowing testimonies from women who have suffered physical abuse, social exclusion, and violations of their basic human rights. The report also highlights the lack of access to justice, with many cases of violence and forced eviction going unpunished.

The call for action is gaining momentum, with human rights groups, gender advocates, and traditional authorities now under pressure to confront deep-seated beliefs and take a stand against these harmful practices.

As the debate continues, the lives of hundreds hang in the balance—trapped in a cycle of stigma, abandonment, and survival.

By: Bawa Musah

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