CHRAJ demands urgent action on Anti-Witchcraft Bill after child abuse incident

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has renewed its call for Parliament to urgently pass the Anti-Witchcraft Bill, warning that every delay leaves more vulnerable people—especially women and children—at risk of abuse, particularly in rural communities where superstition remains rampant.

CHRAJ Commissioner Joseph Whittal appealed during a forum on Wednesday, July 23, commemorating five years since the horrific mob lynching of Akua Denteh in Ghana’s Northern Region. Whittal, joined by several civil society groups, stressed that the bill is essential not only to prevent future tragedies but also to reinforce Ghana’s stance on justice, dignity, and the protection of human rights.

The urgency of CHRAJ’s plea is underscored by a disturbing new case from Anhwiesu in the Central Region, where, just days earlier on July 22, an 11-year-old girl and three elderly women were accused of using witchcraft to harm a teacher.

According to reports, the accusations were made by a classmate who claimed to possess supernatural insight. The child allegedly stated that the accused had spiritually “tied” two students and conspired to attack a teacher. What followed was a chilling exorcism ritual led by a fetish priest, who claimed to have “seen” the child’s spiritual acts. The young girl was forced to participate in the ritual, while the elderly women—maintaining their innocence—refused.