Ghana’s Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights has marked the World Day Against Witch Hunts, calling for urgent action to protect victims of witchcraft accusations.
The committee praises individuals, non-profit organizations, and governments working to end witch hunts and protect vulnerable people, especially elderly women.
The committee promised to work with the government to expedite the passage of the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2025, also known as the Anti-Witchcraft Accusations Bill, before the 9th Parliamentary com to an end.
Below is the full statement issued in Accra by the Committee chair, Ernest Yaw Anim.
10th August 2025
Attn: All Editors
For Immediate Release,
STATEMENT ON WORLD DAY AGAINST WITCH HUNT
The Committee on Human Rights of the Parliament of Ghana joins the rest of the world to mark this World Day Against Witch Hunts.
The Committee commends highly the efforts of all individuals, non-profit organisations, and governments across the world who continuously strive and put in maximum efforts to end witchcraft accusations and their related witch hunts in Ghana and beyond.
The Committee on Human Rights remains optimistic that the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, shall in this 9th Parliament take urgent steps to ensure the passage/enactment of the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2025, also known as the Anti-Witchcraft Accusations Bill, to guarantee the protection and preservation of the rights of all such vulnerable persons, particularly those of vulnerable elderly women in Ghana.
The Committee wishes to reiterate its support and commitment to victims of witch hunt, a phenomenon which violates Articles 12,13,14,15,17(2),21(2) of the 1992 Constitution and various international laws and treaties such as the Convention against Torture, Cruel and other forms of Degrading or Inhuman Treatment, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
The Committee on Human Rights shall in the coming weeks undertake a monitoring visit to all witch camps in Ghana, and shall endeavour to uphold your rights and dignity at all times.
Signed,
Hon. Ernest Yaw Anim,
Chairman, Committee on Human Rights
Parliament of Ghana
