https://www.trtafrika.com:443/africa/ghanas-mps-pass-bill-criminalising-witchcraft-accusation-14238700 Logo * + Turkiye Turkiye + Africa Africa + World World News * Business * Sport * Opinion * Life * Video * Insight * [ ] * + Francais Francais + Hausa Hausa + Swahili Swahili English ----------------------------------------------------------------- [ ] * Africa 28 Jul 2023 * twitter * facebook * whatsapp * reddit * email Ghana's MPs pass bill criminalising witchcraft accusation Ghana's MPs pass bill criminalising witchcraft accusation It follows incidents of public lynching of people, especially the elderly, accused of involvement in witchcraft. The bill was passed unanimously in parliament. / Photo: Reuters Lawmakers in Ghana have passed a bill that prohibits the naming, accusing or labelling of another person as being a witch, with offenders facing up to five years in jail if found guilty. It also prohibits people from practicing as a witchdoctor or a witchfinder. The bill is a response to incidents of public lynching of people, especially the elderly, accused of involvement in witchcraft. The Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill 2002 was passed on Thursday and now awaits presidential assent to become law. It was sponsored by a member of the opposition National Democratic Congress party. Over 500 of people are being held in safe houses, so-called witch camps, that are spread across the country where they fled for safety after being accused of involvement in witchcraft, according to local media. Some of the camps are thought to have been created over 100 years ago. "It means that all witch camps stand proscribed. The law also requires that within a period the minister for social protection will take steps to reintegrate people who are being held in various camps," Francis Xavier Sosu, the MP for Madina, told journalists. He added: "It's going to bring about a serious mind shift, correct a lot of ills in our society and I'm confident that we are building a better society for ourselves." Rights campaigners said they were hoping for the president to assent to the bill soon. TRT Afrika * Ghana * Witchcraft * Witch Camps * Ghana Parliament * Nana Akufo-addo Related news US pledges $100m to help combat violent extremism in West Africa US pledges $100m to help combat violent extremism in West Africa Kamala Harris says Africa plays a critical role in global security. This is her first visit to Africa since becoming US Vice President in January 2021 Ghana court jails five separatists Ghana court jails five separatists The convicted separatists are members of the banned Western Togoland Restoration Front. The group is agitating for a breakaway state in eastern Ghana. 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