Minister-designate pledges to fight for women accused of witchcraft
Ali Adolf G. John, the Minister-designate for the Northern Region, has promised to fight for the rights of aged women accused of witchcraft in his region.
Appearing before the Appointment Committee of Parliament on Thursday, January 23, 2025, Ali Adolf pledged to collaborate closely with traditional rulers to protect accused persons and facilitate their reintegration into society when officially approved by Parliament to be the Regional Minister for the Northern Region.
He lamented the inhumane treatment levied against innocent women tagged to be witches in the Northern Region.
“Most of the aged are often accused of witchcraft and some of the footage is horrific, so I will do everything possible with the traditional leaders to handle this issue.
He added, “We need the intervention of the traditional rulers to help us help these people to reintegrate them back into society”.
Over five elderly women accused of witchcraft were lynched in the Northern Region in 2024 alone.
These cruel incidents occurred despite a ban on witchcraft accusations.
In 2023, Parliament passed the Criminal Amendment Bill 2022, which criminalises the declaration, accusation, naming, or labelling of another person as a witch in Ghana.
The amendment bill, passed on Thursday, July 27, 2023, also forbids anyone from practicing as a witch doctor or witchfinder.