The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has announced plans to engage President John Dramani Mahama’s administration on the passage of the anti-Witchcraft Bill.

The proposed legislation, officially termed the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2023, seeks to amend the Criminal Offences Act of 1960 (Act 29) by outlawing the practice of witchcraft practices such as the act of accusing or labelling individuals as witches.

Introduced as a Private Member’s Bill by Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu, MP for Madina, alongside other National Democratic Congress (NDC) lawmakers, the bill was approved by Parliament on 28 July 2023.

However, it failed to secure presidential assent under the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Former President Akufo-Addo declined to sign the bill, citing concerns about its potential financial implications for the consolidated fund.

This decision left the bill in limbo despite its perceived importance in addressing the dangers and societal harm caused by witchcraft accusations.

Speaking during an interview on Channel One TV, Lambert Luguniah, CHRAJ’s National Representative, expressed optimism that the Mahama government would support the legislation. He revealed that preliminary discussions with key officials in the new administration indicated a positive outlook.

“Our expectation is to engage the new government. My boss, the commissioner, has already had initial discussions with some of the government’s key officers, and their disposition towards the bill is very favourable,” Luguniah stated.

CHRAJ intends to advocate for the bill to be reintroduced under the president’s name rather than as a Private Member’s Bill. This approach, Luguniah noted, would minimise obstacles that hindered its progress previously.

“Once the government is fully constituted, we will formally engage them to ensure the bill is repackaged and presented as a presidential initiative. This will help facilitate its passage without the hurdles encountered in its earlier iteration,” he added.

The Anti-Witchcraft Bill is widely regarded as a critical step towards safeguarding vulnerable individuals and addressing the stigma and violence associated with witchcraft accusations in Ghanaian society.