Five years after the gruesome lynching of 90-year-old Akua Denteh in the Northern Region, Ghanaians continue to grapple with the lingering effects of gender-based violence rooted in superstition.
Akua Denteh was beaten and killed in broad daylight, accused of being a witch. Today, her memory stands as a tragic symbol of the systemic abuse and cultural silence that enable such atrocities.
To commemorate the fifth anniversary of her murder, key stakeholders and government officials gathered at the Christ the King Catholic Church in Accra to demand swift passage of the long-delayed Anti-Witchcraft Bill.
Under the theme, “Witchcraft accusations destroy more than lives,” the event drew participants from across Ghana’s civil society, including faith leaders, queen mothers, human rights activists, and policymakers. Together, they issued a resounding call for legal reform to protect women and marginalised individuals often branded as witches.
“Witchcraft accusation is a theory designed by men to oppress women,” said Professor John Azumah, who led the commemoration.
“These accusations destroy generations of lives. Women should be honoured, not hunted.”
Among the notable voices was Hon. Francis-Xavier Sosu, MP for Madina and Deputy Ranking Member on the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee. He assured the gathering that Parliament is treating the bill with urgency.
“The Anti-Witchcraft Bill is receiving attention under a certificate of urgency. I am confident it will be passed before the end of the year,” he stated.
Representing Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Naa Momo Lartey, reiterated that the bill represents both a moral and national obligation.
“President John Dramani Mahama has pledged to sign the bill into law when passed,” she said.
“This bill gives hope to the voiceless.”
Organisations such as CHRAJ, ActionAid Ghana, Songtaba, and the Concerned Women Theologians submitted petitions to the Speaker of Parliament urging expedited action. Their unified stance reflects growing national momentum to finally outlaw the branding of individuals as witches—a practice that often leads to physical violence, exile, and even death.
In a powerful gesture of solidarity, participants marched to the Jubilee House, holding placards that read “Say no to witch camps” and “Protect women, pass the bill.” The march was both a tribute to Akua Denteh and a declaration of resistance against silence and inaction.
As Ghana strives to build a just and inclusive society, the call to protect vulnerable women from harmful traditional practices has never been louder. Five years after her death, Akua Denteh’s story continues to fuel a national movement—one that insists no woman should ever suffer or die under the shadow of superstition again.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Matilda Sena Adzatoh
