Ghana Parliament engages religious leaders to combat witchcraft accusations

The Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights in Ghana has held a two-day meeting with religious leaders from the Office of the National Chief Imam and the Christian Council of Ghana to address witchcraft accusations. The initiative aims to protect individuals, particularly older and vulnerable persons, from the violence, discrimination, and social exclusion often resulting from such allegations.

The Committee emphasized that religious leaders are critical stakeholders whose influence can either mitigate or perpetuate the phenomenon. Following the meeting, both religious bodies committed to promoting public awareness, discouraging stigmatization, and supporting legislative efforts to safeguard the human rights of those accused.

This engagement follows the passage of the Social Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1148) and coincides with Ghana’s progress toward ratifying the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Older Persons.