Human rights advocates and Members of Parliament(MPS) have renewed pressure on government to swiftly pass Ghana’s Anti-Witchcraft Bill.

The stakeholders warned that continued delays expose vulnerable women and girls to violence, banishment, and death across several communities in northern Ghana.

The concerns were raised at the Interfaith Dialogue on the Anti-Witchcraft Bill which was convened by Songtaba with support from Oxfam.

This event forms part of the activities to mark the 2026 International Women’s Day.

The event brought together Members of Parliament, faith leaders, civil society organisations and state institutions to deliberate on persistent witchcraft-related accusations and the legislative measures needed to curb them.

Ms. Zuwera Ibrahimah, Member of Parliament for Salaga South and Vice Chairperson of the Gender, Children and Social Protection Committee, said at the event that no financial or administrative concern should outweigh the responsibility of the State to protect vulnerable citizens.

She stated that the prevalence of accusations against elderly women and even schoolgirls demonstrated the urgency of the bill’s passage.

According to her, the mere academic excellence of young girls, particularly in subjects such as mathematics, had become grounds for branding them as witches, a situation she described as discriminatory and destructive.

She said such accusations forced some girls out of school, resulting in the loss of human potential and national development prospects.

Ms. Ibrahimah added that she expected the Ninth Parliament to support the bill once it was laid before the House, explaining that the Gender Ministry was preparing to submit it to Cabinet for approval before it proceeded to Parliament.

Hajia Lamnatu Adam, Executive Director of Songtaba, told the gathering that the spread of witchcraft accusations across the country, coupled with the existence of designated witch camps n northern Ghana, demonstrated the severity of the issue.

She explained that despite reintegration efforts, the fear of violence remained widespread among elderly women.

She noted that last year several women were lynched following accusations of witchcraft, and disclosed a recent incident in Bimbilla where a couple fled their home to escape mob attacks.

She called for the urgent passage of the bill to prevent further killings and said the legislation must be accompanied by specialised courts to expedite related cases.

Hajia Adam provided updated figures, indicating that 131 women currently resided at the Ngani Camp, 78 at the Gambaga Camp, and 20 at the Kpatinga (Pasimbana) Camp.

She added that although about 220 women had been reintegrated through civil society interventions, accusations continued unabated.

The Anti-Witchcraft Bill under consideration seeks to criminalise witchcraft accusations, ban witch-hunting practices, including forced exorcisms, and prohibit the operation of alleged witch camps.

It also provides for protection mechanisms for survivors, including psychosocial support, safe reintegration, and remedies in law.

Provisions within the proposed legislation oblige state institutions to prevent, investigate and prosecute abuses linked to witchcraft-related practices, in line with Ghana’s constitutional guarantees of dignity and personal security.