Ghana: Witchcraft accusations expose rights concerns

Ghana’s delayed legislation criminalising witchcraft accusations has become a test of the country’s ability to translate human rights commitments into meaningful legal protection for vulnerable citizens. Amnesty International has warned that women continue to face violence, displacement and social exclusion despite years of political promises, according to Amnesty International and France 24 via AP on 23 July.

The renewed scrutiny follows the killing of 90-year-old Akua Denteh in 2020, whose death after being accused of witchcraft drew international condemnation and exposed the persistence of witchcraft-related violence despite Ghana’s constitutional protections. Although those responsible were convicted, campaigners argue that the absence of comprehensive legal reform has allowed similar abuses to continue, leaving many women vulnerable to accusations that frequently result in assault, banishment or lifelong displacement.

At the centre of the debate is legislation that would criminalise witchcraft accusations while providing legal safeguards for victims. Despite receiving parliamentary approval before the previous legislature expired, the bill has yet to become law, prompting criticism that successive governments have failed to convert political consensus into enforceable protection.

The delay highlights a broader governance challenge. Ghana is widely regarded as one of West Africa’s most stable democracies, yet campaigners argue that institutional protection has remained weakest in communities where customary beliefs continue to shape local justice and social authority. The gap between constitutional rights and practical enforcement has therefore become central to the debate, particularly in communities where customary beliefs continue to shape local justice.

The continued existence of so-called “witch camps” has become a visible measure of that institutional gap. Their persistence suggests that informal systems of protection continue to operate where formal legal safeguards remain insufficient, raising wider questions about the state’s capacity to enforce rights consistently across the country.

Campaigners also caution that legislation alone is unlikely to resolve the problem. Criminal sanctions may deter individual offenders, but without sustained public education and stronger local enforcement, alongside community engagement, the beliefs underpinning witchcraft accusations are unlikely to disappear. The proposed law is therefore increasingly viewed as only one component of a broader strategy requiring institutional reform alongside legal change.

The debate also carries wider regional significance. Across parts of sub-Saharan Africa, accusations of witchcraft continue to disproportionately affect older women, children and people with disabilities, exposing the tension between international human rights obligations and deeply embedded customary practices. Ghana’s response is likely to shape wider regional debates over how African governments reconcile customary practices with constitutional rights. The legislation may therefore become an important reference point for neighbouring states confronting similar allegations while seeking to strengthen human rights protections without undermining community legitimacy.

Ultimately, the legislation will be judged less by its passage through parliament than by whether it strengthens confidence in the rule of law. Without effective enforcement, the gap between constitutional protections and lived reality risks undermining both public trust and Ghana’s wider reputation as one of West Africa’s strongest democratic institutions.

Amnesty International, France 24 via AP, Maghrebi.org