The witchcraft accusation case against five pastors and others from the Adaboya community has been withdrawn from the Bongo District Court.
The police prosecutor handling the case requested the court to withdraw the case, which was granted today, August 15, 2024.
The accused individuals were arrested and remanded for two weeks for allegedly accusing 61-year-old Ayidaana Abotisei of witchcraft, which led to her near-lynching.
The complainant, Joseph Azubire Aduko, the son of the victim, requested the withdrawal of the case due to familial ties with some of the accused.
Community leaders, traditional authorities, religious leaders, family members, and politicians intervened, pleading for an out-of-court settlement to resolve the matter at the community level.
Mr. Aduko stated that the withdrawal of the case aims to promote peace and unity in the community, preventing further conflicts and ensuring the incident does not recur.
Some community members who spoke to a1radioonline.com about this development highlighted the importance of community-led initiatives in resolving disputes and promoting social cohesion. They believe that the two weeks in police custody was sufficient for the accused to realize that their actions were unlawful, and they are pleased with the discontinuation of the prosecution.
However, Mr. Aduko, the son of the victim, clarified that although the case has been withdrawn from the court, the docket remains with the police. He stated that if the case is not completely resolved at the community level, it may be brought back to the court.
All nine accused persons were granted the freedom to seek an out-of-court settlement, with one person from each accused standing as surety.
Source: A1Radioonline.com | 101.1 MHz | David Azure | Bongo District
