Parliament’s Human Rights Committee demands swift action to end witch hunts
By DL News
Published
1 min read
In a statement on August 10, the Committee commended the relentless efforts of individuals, NGOs, and governments working to eliminate witchcraft accusations and related abuses in Ghana and beyond.
Ghana’s Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights has joined the global observance of the World Day Against Witch Hunts, urging stronger protections for those accused of witchcraft.
In a statement on August 10, the Committee commended the relentless efforts of individuals, NGOs, and governments working to eliminate witchcraft accusations and related abuses in Ghana and beyond.
It called on the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection to expedite the passage of the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2025—commonly referred to as the Anti-Witchcraft Accusations Bill. The proposed law aims to safeguard vulnerable groups, particularly elderly women, from persecution and abuse.
The Committee described witch hunts as violations of key provisions of the 1992 Constitution, including Articles 12, 13, 14, 15, 17(2), and 21(2), as well as international conventions such as the Convention against Torture and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
As part of its commitment, the Committee announced plans to visit all witch camps in the coming weeks to ensure the rights and dignity of alleged victims are upheld.
