A Hohoe Magistrate Court has sentenced a 31-year-old painter to a fine of GH¢1,200 for insulting his neighbour as a witch and having bitter flesh.

Fia Foli Philip, the accused, has also been ordered by the court to pay an amount of GH¢5,000 as compensation to the complainant and never call her a witch again.

Chief Inspector Charles Aziati, prosecuting, prayed the court, presided over by Joseph Y. Kunsong, to severely punish the convict to serve as a deterrent to other people who call older women in society witches.

He said such behaviour was intolerable and deviant from “our culture”.

On December 28, 2021, the convict stood directly opposite the house of the complainant and rained insults on her, saying, “You are a witch.”

The accused added that the complainant had a hand in the death of one late Musa.

Fia also said the complainant’s flesh is “bitter”, adding that “so go and tell whoever sent you to me that you cannot kill me.”

The complainant was at that time in the house with her physically challenged daughter, a witness in the case.

She lodged a complaint with the police at Gbi-Bla, leading to the arrest of the accused.