Fati Abigail Abdulai, Executive Director of the Widows and Orphans Movement (WOM), has expressed grave concerns that older women in communities in the Upper East Region continue to suffer horrendous treatment and stigmatization due to backward tags as witches.
Ms. Abdulai was particularly worried that the situation persisted even though accusers have never been able to concretely prove the accusations they make, thus stressing the need for stringent legal action against witchcraft accusations.
“The Widows and Orphans Movement has over the years been working with the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) as well as the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), who carry out community sensitizations to let people know that it is criminal to accuse somebody of witchcraft because you need to prove it. How do you prove witchcraft in the law court?” she said.
She spoke to Mark Smith on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East Show.
Ms. Abdulai stressed that the legal system must deliver justice, particularly for women who are frequently accused of causing their husbands’ deaths and suffer significant psychological trauma as a result.
She warned that the problem affects not only the accused but also those who attempt to defend them, calling for collective action to address and prevent these issues. “I’ll always say that we always think that it’s only the old woman there that is at risk. But we are all at risk because once your mother or your sister is accused and you come in to defend, you are equally at risk.”
A disturbing incident of witchcraft accusation has led to the arrest and remand of Edmund Anamboi Aduko, a lecturer at Gbewaa College of Education, five pastors, and others in the Bongo district of the Upper East region.
The accused individuals allegedly accused 61-year-old Ayidaana Abotisei of being a witch, resulting in her near-lynching in Adaboya community after they forcefully took her to a fetish priest to confess wrongdoing, contrary to Section 207 of the Criminal and Other Offences Act of Ghana (Act 29, 1960).
At the Bongo district court on July 2, 2024, the accused were brought before the court, which remanded them for two weeks to allow for further police investigation. The decision was made due to the fact that seven of the accused are currently at large.
The police are working to apprehend the remaining suspects and ensure that all perpetrators are brought to justice.
The accused persons include: Edmund Anamboi Aduko (57 years), Gbewaa College of Education lecturer; Aduko Isaac Asaa (28 years); Ayaka Calvin (20 years); Akayeti George (26 years); Yakub Zeckariah (20 years); and Agana Pius (20 years). Those currently at large include: Asinga, Baba Adongo, Nyaaba, Atiah, Atobire, and Adogwereke.
The remaining accused, charged with threatening to kill the son of the victim for reporting the case to the police, include: Ayamga Godwin (37 years), Asandoo Gideon (25 years), Christopher Abugre (31 years), and Asinga, who is at large.
The accused are to reappear in court on August 15, 2024.
Source: A1Radioonline.Com|101.1MHZ|Gifty Eyram Kudiabor|Bongo|
