Lynching of Two People Over Witchcraft Accusation Condemned by Northern Regional Re-integration Committee

The Northern Regional Re-integration Committee on Witchcraft Accusation and Disbandment of Alleged Witches Camps has condemned the lynching of two individuals at Zakpalsi in the Mion District of the Northern Region over witchcraft allegations. The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, May 7th, 2023, and has been described as barbaric and an affront to human rights.

Secretary to the Committee, Hajia Adam Lamnatu, read a statement on behalf of the members of the Committee in Tamale, expressing their concern over the lynching of Safura Imoro, who left behind seven children, and Mba Cherefo, an aged man. They stated that the lynching was a violation of human rights, especially as Ghana has signed onto international human rights conventions such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

The members of the Committee comprise ActionAid Ghana, Songtaba, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service, Department of Gender Children and Social Protection, and representatives of traditional and religious leaders.

Hajia Lamnatu called on the Police to act swiftly to bring the perpetrators to book and give justice to the families of the victims. She emphasized that this is a clear case of alleged murder, and there should not be any interference to give the Police the space to do their investigation.

The Northern Regional Re-integration Committee appealed to Parliament to hasten the passage of the Anti-witchcraft Bill into law to help address the prevalence of witchcraft accusations and safeguard the fundamental rights of victims. The Anti-witchcraft Bill seeks to criminalize the labeling of anyone as a witch or wizard and prescribing punishment for those found guilty of the act.

In a nutshell, the lynching of two individuals over witchcraft allegations is a barbaric act and a violation of human rights. The Northern Regional Re-integration Committee on Witchcraft Accusation and Disbandment of Alleged Witches Camps has called on the Police to act swiftly and bring the perpetrators to book. They have also appealed to Parliament to pass the Anti-witchcraft Bill into law to address the prevalence of witchcraft accusations and safeguard the fundamental rights of victims. It is time for Ghanaians to stop the labeling of people as witches or wizards and treat all individuals with dignity and respect.