By Juliet ETEFE ([email protected])
Social advocates from various organisations have urged President Nana Akufo-Addo to urgently sign the 2023 Anti-Witchcraft Bill into law to protect vulnerable individuals from societal abuses.
The demand came during an ActionAid Ghana Thought Leadership Series, held in Accra, where experts and social justice campaigners discussed the significance of the Criminal Offence Amendment Bill, which includes provisions to address witchcraft accusations, and its potential role in human rights.
The panelists noted the appalling conditions that women accused of witchcraft endure, calling on the President to personally visit the camps with the Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection to better understand the urgency of the issue, and ultimately sign the bill.
Lawyer and advocate Francis Xavier Sosu who also visited these camps, shared a harrowing account of the inhumane conditions women are subjected to, including physical abuse, extortion, and sexual exploitation.
“I believe that it is only when the President visits the camp that he will understand and appreciate the excruciating pains and the agony of these vulnerable women. No one ever visits these camps and comes back the same. These women need love and care. They need a society that says, ‘Look, these women have suffered enough,’ and we must do the needful by protecting them and passing a law that will end these abuses,” he bemoaned.
He emphasised that the treatment of these women is a blatant violation of Article 15 of Ghana’s Constitution, which guarantees the inviolability of human dignity.
Furthermore, it contravenes international human rights laws such as the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
To this end, the member of parliament, Mr. Sosu with experts including Susan Aryeetey, Ag. Executive Director, Federation of Women Lawyers; Ms. Esther Boateng, Northern Regional Program Manager; Dr. Rose Mensah Kutin, West Africa Regional Director, ABANTU For Development and Prof. John Azumah, Founding Executive Director, Sanneh Institute; called on the president to act now.
They also highlighted the role of traditional and religious leaders in combating witchcraft accusations which are often rooted in cultural beliefs and misconceptions and continue to persist despite societal advancements.
They stressed that the leaders have a significant role to play in dispelling the dangerous myths surrounding witchcraft and in addressing the deep-seated cultural practices that continue to oppress vulnerable women.
Affirmative Action Bill
The Thought Leadership Series also touched on the recently passed Affirmative Action Bill, which is now awaiting the President’s assent.
The bill, which aims to create a level playing field for women in political and leadership roles, was a focal point of the discussion, with advocates emphasising its importance for equity.
Ms. Eugenia Ayagiba, Women’s Rights and Campaigns Manager at ActionAid Ghana, reiterated that the Affirmative Action Bill is crucial in breaking down barriers to women’s participation in governance, leadership, and decision-making across various sectors.
“For us at ActionAid, we are seeking equity, not just equality,” she said, stressing the need for structural changes that ensure women can compete for resources and opportunities on a fair basis.
“We are hopeful that the passage of the bill will lead to a society where power is equitably distributed, and women can fully participate in governance and leadership,” she said.
Dr. Rose Mensah Kutin of Abantu Ghana echoed similar sentiments, adding that gender equality is not just a moral imperative but also a legal obligation under international conventions and the country’s constitution.
She stressed the importance of ensuring that the bill’s provisions are fully integrated into national frameworks to accelerate gender parity by 2030.
“Anything that benefits women is not received on a silver platter,” Dr. Kutin lamented, pointing out the historical resistance to women’s rights advancements.
However, she expressed optimism that the Affirmative Action Bill, when fully enacted, will transform Ghanaian society by promoting equal opportunities for all citizens, regardless of gender.
Despite the progress made with the Affirmative Action Bill, the delay in the President’s assent has raised concerns among advocates.
