CHRAJ Mulls over Unassented Anti-Witchcraft Bill

The Commission on Human Rights Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has mulled over the state of the “Anti-witchcraft Bill” passed by Parliament almost two years ago.

The bill remains not assented months after its passage.

However, the Commission is certain that the bill will be instrumental in addressing the age-old practice that unleashes violence and undermines the rights of women in Ghana as it deems the continuous abuse and violence meted out to alleged witches as an issue of crucial importance.

This was contained in the Commission’s message to the public on the occasion of International Women’s Day celebrated on March 8, 2025.
“The joy and hope that came with the passage of the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill in July 2023 was short-lived, as the bill was not assented to by former President Nana Akufo-Addo.

“The ‘Anti-witchcraft Bill’ has the intended purpose to criminalize the declaration, accusation, naming or labelling of another person as a witch, as well as the practice of witch-finders in Ghana.”

It therefore urged President John Dramani Mahama to take interest in the Bill as he has shown with other bills and allocate the needed funds for it.

“This is much needed to ensure the human rights protection of especially vulnerable elderly women who are usually accused of witchcraft. In addition, the government is entreated to make funds available for the effective implementation of Section 8(3) of the Domestic Violence Act, 2007, (Act 732) and to set up shelters for victims across the country as stipulated by the Domestic Violence Act. ”

Under the new administration, the MP for Madina, Francis Xavier Sosu alongside other lawmakers have resubmitted the bill to Parliament.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini