WORKING VISIT TO NORTH EAST AND NORTHERN REGIONS

In effort to holistically address the phenomenon of witchcraft accusations and violence against ‘alleged witches’ and the continuous existence of camps, the Sector Minister for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), Hon. Lariba Zuweira Abudu has embarked on a ‘Week-long Working Visit’ to some Districts in the North East and Northern regions.

The Minister was accompanied by the Chief Director, Dr. Afisah Zakariah, the Director for the Department of Gender, Ms. Faustina Acheampong and some staff from the Ministry.

Among other things, the visit seeks to:

– Engage the region’s Overlords and Custodians, have discussions with them over issues associated to witchcraft.

– Check on some of the ‘Witch Camps’ and their residents.

– Donate some relief items to residents of the ‘witch camps’.

As part of her working visit, the Minister and her entourage on Tuesday 23rd May and Wednesday 24th May 2023, paid a courtesy call on the Overlord of the Mamprugu Kingdom, Naa Sheriga Mahami Abdulai and the Chief of Gambaga – Gambarana Yahaya Wuni to brief them on the purpose of her visit.

Interacting with members of the media and inhabitants of Gambaga Witch Camp, the Minister intimated that Government is committed to safeguarding the welfare of all Ghanaians and that no one is left behind in the national growth and development plan.

To enhance their well-being, the Minister stated that residents of the “Witch Camp’s have so far been linked to social protection interventions such as LEAP and NHIS.

She revealed that a bill on witchcraft is being drafted in order to safeguard the human rights of the ‘alleged witches’

Hon. Lariba encouraged stakeholders to intensify their campaign on witchcraft issues. She also urged everyone to report issues of witchcraft claims to the Chiefs and the Ghana Police Service for redress rather than lynching them.

As part of her working visit, the Minister will meet with the Chief and members of the Zakpalsi community in the Mion District to discuss potential solutions to reduce charges of witchcraft in the neighborhood on on Thursday 25th May,2023.

She will also visit and commiserate with the aggrieved families of the two deceased as a result of charges of witchcraft in Zakpalsi.

Source: MoGCSP