NGOs call on President Akufo-Addo to assent to Anti-Witchcraft Bill.

A coalition of NGOs, including Sanneh Institute, ActionAid Ghana, and Amnesty International Ghana, is urging President Nana Addo Dunkwa Akufo Addo to sign the Anti-Witchcraft Accusations Bill (AWAB) into law. This bill aims to protect vulnerable individuals, particularly women, from being accused of witchcraft and suffering from related human rights abuses .

Rev. Professor John Azumah, Convener of the Coalition, emphasized that Ghana is the only country with witch camps, and signing the bill would demonstrate the country's commitment to eradicating gender-based violence and discrimination. The bill was passed unanimously by Parliament in July 2023, after consultations with various stakeholders, including the Attorney General's office and the Commission of Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) .

Genevieve Partington, Country Director of Amnesty International Ghana, noted that elderly women in rural communities are often unfairly targeted and accused of witchcraft, leading to physical abuse and even death. She emphasized that witchcraft accusations perpetuate gender-based violence and deny women their fundamental rights to dignity, security, and equality .

The coalition is joining forces with CHRAJ and other national and international bodies to call on the president to sign the bill into law. They believe that the accusations and witch-hunting are the root causes of the untold suffering of the victims, and that the state remains their only hope for protection .