Ghana women cast out over witchcraft claims say the law has failed them

Hundreds of older women in Ghana are living in informal camps after being accused of witchcraft

and forced to flee their homes. A new report from Amnesty International says these women face

violence, threats, and ritual attacks, often after family disputes, illness, or even bad dreams

Most of the accused are over 50 and live in poverty with limited access to health care

food, or clean water. The report focuses on four camps in northern and northeastern Ghana

where more than 500 people are sheltering. Residents say they were targeted for being

independent, rejecting marriage proposals, or simply being seen as different. The camps run

by local religious leaders don't meet basic living standards. Leaking roofs, hunger, and lack of

medical care are common. The government has not set up reintegration programs or provided support

to victims. In 2023, Ghana's parliament passed a bill criminalizing witchcraft accusations

but the president has yet to sign it into law. Amnesty is calling for enforcement, protections, and public education to challenge harmful beliefs

The problem extends beyond Ghana. In Angola, 50 people died in 2024 after being forced to drink a potion to prove they weren't witches

Local police said it contained a supposed poison. In the Democratic Republic of Congo and Guinea-Bissau, women accused of sorcery have been publicly executed

Amnesty shared its findings with Ghanaian officials earlier this year, but says it received no official response

The group continues to push for legal reform and long-term efforts to protect the most vulnerable from abuse and discrimination

For more of our Unbiased Straight Fact reporting, download the Straight Hour News app today or log on to san.com