Deputy Minister deplores witches camp idea and existence

Accra, Sept. 7, GNA – Hajia Hawawu Boya Gariba, Deputy Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC), has deplored the existence and idea of “witches” camps in the country and the poor conditions of the inmates especially women and children.

A statement issued in Accra on Tuesday by the Ministry said Hajia Gariba expressed the concern during a visit to Ngani “Witches” camp near Yendi in the Northern Region to acquaint herself with conditions in the comp.

She said the incarceration and confinement of women into camps by society and community members, constituted gross violation of their human rights, freedoms and against the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women which Ghana is signatory.

Hajia Gariba therefore called on societies and communities to as a matter of urgency put a stop to this practice.

She said the Ministry considered the existence of these camps as not only a violation of people’s human rights but also a national disaster adding, ”The Ministry is liaising with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to provide relief items in the form of food and clothing to inhabitants of the camp”.

In addition, MOWAC in collaboration with other stakeholders is working assiduously to disband all “witches” camps in Ghana and called on community leaders and traditional authorities to provide support in this direction.

The Ngani “witches” camp is inhabited by 188 women and 41 men who have been accused of being “witches” and abandoned in the camp by members of their families and communities.

There are also over 100 children in the camp, most of them had to accompany their mothers.