Disbaning witches camps -Our collective responsibilities

Article: Salome Donkor
Belief in witchcraft is widespread in Ghana and parts of Africa. Deception, fear, religious beliefs, ignorance and poverty are the major factors that perpetuate these superstitious beliefs and attitudes that in turn sustain this outmoded tradition, mostly perpetrated against old women.
According to the Southern Sector Youth and Women’s Empowerment Network (SOSYWEN), a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) that focuses on the empowerment of women and the youth, this belief, together with the consequent punishment meted out to women accused of being witches, dates as far back as the 17th century.
These women are among the poorest in a general poor area and are made up of illiterate old women and young children. In some parts of northern Ghana, they are banished from their families and communities and lives in witches camps located in those communities. Some are even murdered in cold blood.
A publication by the organisation as part of its advocacy work in finding a long-term and more comprehensive solution to witches camp, with funding from the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA)/Royal Danish Embassy towards the “Witches Camp” Integrated Project, estimates that there are about 5,000 women and children living in witches camps in the three northern regions of Ghana and the inmates are aged between eight and 80.
These women cannot go back to their communities without the risk of being killed because they have been accused of being the cause of suffering or death of somebody at the village. They are subjected to abuse and other cruel treatment. Their rights are violated in various ways including forced and unremunerated labour on the overlord’s farms and they are deprived of many basic services such as water supply, health and school.
The booklet published by SOSYWEN, which is made up of quotes from selected eminent persons who are seen as opinion leaders and whose voices, views and opinions are well respected, quotes the Deputy Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs Hajia Hawawu Boya Gariba, who expresses concern of the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC) about the situation of children whose education and growth are hampered through no fault of their, but for the simple reason that they are children of accused “witches”.
During a visit to the Ngani Witches Camp near Yendi in the Northern Region to acquaint herself with conditions in the camp, the deputy minister observed that the incarceration and confinement of women to camps by society and community members constituted gross violation of their human rights and freedoms and against the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), to which Ghana was a signatory.
In a statement issued in Accra on September 6, 2011, MOWAC said it was collaborating with other stakeholders to work assiduously to disband all witches camps in Ghana and, therefore, called on community leaders and traditional authorities to provide support in that direction.
The  Ngani camp is inhabited by 188 women and 41 men who have been accused of being witches wizards, and abandoned in the camp by members of their families and communities.
Hajia Gariba said the ministry considered the existence of these camps as not only a violation of people’s human rights but also a national disaster, adding “The ministry is liaising with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to provide relief items in the form of food and clothing to inhabitants of the camps”.
The statement by the deputy minister was published in the September 8, 2011 issue of the Daily Graphic, a day after the Chief Psychiatrist, Dr Akwasi Osei had written on the upcoming Witches Confab, scheduled for September 13, at the British Council in Accra.
The conference would be attended by about 100 participants from across the country, including representatives from the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Arc Foundation, Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), Parliament, Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA), Queens, Related ministries, Human Rights NGO, Coalition of Health and the Ghana Mental Health Association.
Others are the Mental Health Society of Ghana (MEHSOG), a body of users of mental health services, Churches, Muslim Community, House of Chiefs, Ghana Journalist Association, Ghana Registered Nurses Association, Ghana Medical Association, Ghana Bar Association, A Witchdoctor at one of the camps or camp overlord (Gambaga, etc), chief of a village hosting a witch camp, an inmate of the witch’ camp, social welfare and psychologists.
It is to examine these issues of witchcraft and witch camps and the historical origin of these camps, as well as the sociological and anthropological aspects of the witch camps, and to come out with solid interventions aimed at disbanding, banning and outlawing such practices.
The programme is in three parts, namely the exhibition of pictures from the witch camps and some newspaper articles on witches in the last few months, a documentary on witch camps and a workshop to be held after a series of lectures and presentations on witchcraft concept; mental health aspect, sociological aspect, human rights aspect and religious aspects.
Participants would form various working groups to deliberate on the nature of the problem and make suggestions on the way forward. After that, the conference would come into plenary to report and pool ideas and together craft a way to eradicate the problem. Participants will also draw a communiqué as an action point to be carried through and finally set up a task force to ensure the contents of the communiqué are carried through in order to achieve the goal of the conference.
The SOSYWEN publication, which also quotes 20 essays written on the subject of witches and witch camps by senior high school pupils from Nanumba North, East Mamprusi and Yendi districts all in the Northern Region, indicates a synthesis of the quotes, statements and essays reveal a general view that old women, their children and grandchildren should be allowed to live a dignified life and enjoy their fundamental human rights.
Some accept that witches do exist, and also endorse strong punishment and remedial treatment for the accused women to serve as a deterrent to their practices. Such views suggest the need for increased awareness about outmoded cultural practices and the cruelty endured by these women.
Belief in witchcraft is not only prevalent in northern Ghana, but in many parts of the country, where suspected witches including mothers, grandmother, daughters, daughter-in-laws, mother-in-laws and sister-in-laws suffer abuses and subjected to cruelty.
These questions asked by Dr Osei are very relevant in tackling the issue: What is witchcraft? Even if somebody confesses to being a ‘witch’ or is even ‘confirmed’ as a ‘witch’, assuming it were possible, how should such a person be treated? Does the Constitution allow people to be treated in such a demeaning manner? Where do human rights issues come in?
Witchcraft is a traditional, and sometimes religious belief in the use of magical powers of some people to do evil and some people believe that problems that may arise in a family, communities, leading to disaster, illness, misfortune and hardships are to be blamed on witchcraft.
In addressing the issue, traditional leaders, who are the custodians of traditions and culture of the people, as well as pastors should be targeted. Governmental and non-governmental organisations, related agencies and traditional authorities all have various roles to play, emphasising on education and law enforcement at the district and community level.