Marking six years since the fatal lynching of 90-year-old Akua Denteh, Amnesty International has renewed its call on Ghanaian authorities to immediately pass the stalled Anti-Witchcraft Accusations Bill into law to protect hundreds of vulnerable citizens facing severe abuse.
Six years after a tragedy shocked the nation in the Savannah Region village of Kafaba, human rights advocates are pressing for legislative action to safeguard older women from violent community attacks. Amnesty International has urged authorities to break its silence and enact the long-delayed legal protections, pointing to ongoing abuses that continue to force individuals from their homes.
The 2020 Killing of Akua Denteh and the Legal Aftermath
On July 23, 2020, 90-year-old Akua Denteh was publicly beaten to death in Kafaba after being accused of witchcraft. Vatican News noted that the attack occurred in front of a crowd, with widely circulated video footage capturing two women assaulting the victim. Those two individuals were subsequently convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2023.
Rights groups emphasize that Denteh’s death is not an isolated incident. Hundreds of other women facing similar accusations have fled their communities to escape physical harm, finding themselves displaced and vulnerable.
“Akua’s case is just one of the heart-wrenching examples of the dire consequences of witchcraft accusations. This tragic anniversary is a stark reminder of the urgent need to prevent further atrocities and ensure that innocent lives are protected.”
Lamnatu Adam, Executive Director of Songtaba
Stalled Legislation and Presidential Pushback
Parliament originally passed the Anti-Witchcraft Accusations Bill in July 2023. However, former President Nana Akufo-Addo declined to sign it into law, raising constitutional concerns because the text originated as a private member’s bill rather than a government-sponsored measure.
The proposed legislation is designed to make witchcraft accusations illegal, establish support and protective structures for victims, and open a clear legal path toward justice and financial compensation.
Life Inside Informal Witch Camps and Root Causes
Displaced women fleeing community violence frequently seek refuge in informal camps overseen by religious leaders. According to human rights findings, these locations suffer from severe material deprivation.
Amnesty International’s 2025 report, titled Branded for Life,
documented inadequate access to healthcare, clean water, food, and safe housing across four inspected camps.
“If we had had a bill in place when this happened to me, I would be at home right now, looking after my grandchildren.”
Aishetu Magi, resident of the Gambaga camp
Advocates stress that criminalizing accusations alone will not solve the crisis. Accusations typically stem from family or social stress following tragedies like illness or death, disproportionately targeting older women, those living in poverty, disabled individuals, or women defying traditional gender norms.
International Standards and Next Legislative Steps
Rights organizations emphasize that while spiritual beliefs are protected under international law, harmful physical practices stemming from those beliefs violate fundamental rights to life, security, and non-discrimination.
Activists and lawmakers are maintaining public pressure. Advocates continue to press for the bill’s reintroduction to establish formal state accountability and community reintegration programs.
Keep reading
