Govt insists on disbandment of witches’ camps

Tamale, Dec. 1, GNA – The Deputy Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Hajia Hawamu Boya Gariba, has reiterated the government’s commitment to disband the witches’camps, saying, that the process would be gradual with the sensitization as the first option.

She said the disbandment programme, particularly in the three northern regions, was not going to be day’s exercise where force would be applied but a process that might take a long time starting with the sensitization of the communities.

“The government will not allow such dehumanizing conditions at the witches’ camps to continue to exit,” she said.

Hajia Gariba was speaking at Tamale on Wednesday during the two-day conference on the “Disbandment of the Witches’ Camps,” organized by Action Aid and Songtaba. It aimed at streamlining measures that would ensure that the disbandment of the witches’ camps was done in a humane and consultative manner.

The conference, which brought together the alleged witches from the Gnani, Kukuo, Nabuli, Kpatinga, Bonyase and Gambaga and other stakeholders and District Chief Executives, was under the theme: “Disband the Alleged Witches’ Camps: the Total Approach for Reintegration.”

Hajia Gariba commended ActionAid for its advocacy role that had brought to the fore issues of the witches’ camps stressing that with commitment from the government and NGOs, ‘Trokosi’ and Female Genital Mutilation had become a thing of the past, and ‘with the same commitment, the witches’ camps would soon go’.

She said: “We will not relent in our efforts to ensure that the witches’ camps are gradually disbanded and the victims properly reintegrated into the society. We will continue to collaborate with key stakeholders including our traditional rulers and increase our advocacy and sensitization programme."

The conference also issued a communiqué jointly signed by Ms Adwoa Kwateng-Kluviste, Country Director of ActionAid-Ghana and Mariama Bukari Nakpanzoo, President of the Alleged Witches Network.

It called on the government to approach the disbandment process by first of all meeting the immediate needs of the victims which includeshelter, water and health since the alleged witches are in distressed conditions.

The communiqué said the government must establish a specific programme with definite budget accompanied with a roadmap to the disbandment, adding that the roadmap must be developed in a consultative manner with all stakeholders, including the alleged witches and their primary communities.

It said the government must put in place a specific, pragmatic and operational legal regime that will halt fresh witchcraft allegations and ensure the safe reintegration of the women and their dependants into any community of their choice.

The communiqué said the roadmap must provide for psycho-social and economic empowerment components that will guarantee some peace of mind and economic independence for the women and their dependants into the communities of their choice.