The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to swiftly resolve any concerns regarding the Anti-Witchcraft Bill and grant it his approval.
Officially named the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the Anti-Witchcraft Bill aims to amend the Criminal Offences Act of 1960 to criminalize witch doctoring and the practice of accusing or labeling individuals as witches.
Passed by Parliament on July 28, 2023, this bill was introduced by Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu, MP for Madina, and supported by other National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs. The legislation is intended to address the harmful effects of witchcraft accusations and protect those targeted by such claims.
President Akufo-Addo has expressed concerns over the potential financial implications of the bill on the national budget, which has led to his reluctance to sign it.
However, in an advisory issued on July 1, 2024, CHRAJ highlighted that the issue of witchcraft accusations and related witch camps has long tainted Ghana’s reputation. The commission emphasized that the suffering endured by elderly women accused of witchcraft undermines the country’s efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality and violates fundamental human rights.
CHRAJ stressed the need for urgent action to protect the rights and dignity of these vulnerable individuals. The commission urged the President to address any constitutional concerns and sign the Anti-Witchcraft Bill to bolster human rights protections in Ghana.
