The MP for Madina Constituency, Francis Xavier Sosu has said that witches camps across the country will be disbanded after the passage of the bill that criminalises the declaration, accusation, naming or labelling of another person as a witch.

Speaking to JoyNews’ Kwaku Asante, Mr Sosu stated that the new law ensures that witch camps are illegal, and thus can no longer be in operation.

“By the passing of this law, it means that all witch camps stand proscribed. The law also requires that within a period the Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection will take steps to reintegrate people who are being held in various camps,” he stated.

“The reintegration may take various forms because when we visited the various camps there were some of the camps that is essentially like a home for some of them. So their reintegration may probably be that providing support for them where they are. Others may require that they may go back to their homes,” the Madina MP added.

Mr Sosu stated that whatever way it may take, he believes that the Gender Ministry and the Social Protection unit will take on their mandate and ensure that people branded witches are not only protected but also securely reintegrated into society.

On Thursday, Parliament passed a law criminalising the declaration, accusation, naming or labelling of another person as a witch in Ghana.

The amendment also prohibits any person from practising as a witch doctor or witchfinder.

Read more: Parliament passes law to criminalise accusations of witchcraft, practice of witchfinders and witch doctors

The MP for Madina, Francis Xavier Sosu, who was a co-sponsor of the bill noted that this passage is a piece of good news for all.

“The reason is that for all the 539 persons who are locked up in witch camps currently, they are looking forward to us taking some decisive steps to deal with this situation. This problem has lived with us for over 100 years to the extent that this 8th Parliament has found it needful to pass this law into law.”

“For me, it is definitely going to bring about a very serious mind shift. It is going to correct a lot of the ills in our society and I am confident that we are just building a better society for ourselves.”

Background

In 2020, 90-year-old Madam Akua Denteh was lynched in the Savanah region after she was accused of being a witch.

In a video sighted by Myjoyonline.com, the deceased was slapped, kicked and caned at Kafaba near Salaga in the East Gonja Municipality of the Savannah Region, because she was accused of being a witch.

Read more: 90-year-old woman lynched after traditional priest accused her of witchcraft

Six people were later arrested, including the Kafaba Chief, Zackaria Yahaya for their roles in the gruesome killing.

Many Ghanaians including President Akufo-Addo condemned the killing but few such incidents have occurred since then, prompting the passage of this bill.

Read more: Daughter of 63-year-old accused of witchcraft seeks justice

In 2021, three Members of Parliament introduced the Private Members’ Bill to amend the Criminal and Other Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) to prohibit the practice by any person as a witch doctor or witchfinder.

The sponsors are MPs for Madina, Pusiga and Wa East constituencies, Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu, Hajia Laadi Ayii Ayamba and Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw respectively.