Serial killing of hunchbacks

Ho, Aug. 18, GNA - The Volta Physically Challenge Independent Group, (VOLPHIG) on Monday commended Police in the Ashanti Region for efforts at arresting some suspects in connection with the killings of hunchbacks and the removal of their humps for rituals in Bibiani area in Ashanti region.

The group further urged the public to help the Police to fight the inclinations towards the murder of physically challenged persons for superstitious reasons.

Mr Francis Ansong, Secretary of the Group who made the commendation in an interview with the Ghana News Agency urged the Police to act quickly on those suspects so that they could be brought to justice. He described the killings as barbaric, and against human dignity and the fundamental human rights of the victims.

Mr Ansong said every human being has a "vision and a mission" to accomplish on earth and needed to be allowed to enjoy all the rights to be able to realize those aims and ambitions.

He called for stiff punishments for people who would be found guilty of the act to serve as deterrent to others.

Meanwhile, Mr Joseph Nuertey, Volta Regional Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice described the killings as abhorring and an abuse of the human rights of the people. He said their nature did not degrade them in anyway and asked stakeholders to act fast to put a stop to the situation. Mr Nuertey said hunchbacks like other citizens are useful to society's development and their rights as citizens must be upheld and protected against abuse.