The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has called on President Akufo-Addo to resolve his concerns about the Anti-Witchcraft Bill and give it his approval.

In an advisory statement issued on July 1, 2024, CHRAJ emphasized how accusations of witchcraft are damaging Ghana’s international standing.

“The culture of witchcraft accusation and its connected witch camps is a serious dent on Ghana’s image as a country. It has become an albatross around the neck of the country for decades. Its dire consequences on the rights of Ghanaian women are beyond debate.

“It also undermines national efforts towards the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) particularly Goal 5 on gender equality.

“In an era of constitutional democracy hinged on the protection of fundamental human rights and freedoms, the rights of one of the most vulnerable groups in society, elderly women accused of witchcraft must therefore be of high priority to the State, and urgent steps must be taken to safeguard their human rights and dignity," a statement from CHRAJ said.

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has urged President Akufo-Addo to address his concerns regarding the Anti-Witchcraft Bill and approve it.

“In the light of the foregoing, the Commission respectfully urges His Excellency the President of the Republic to take urgent steps including any legislative steps that will resolve any constitutional concerns raised by H.E the President in order to assent to the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill, 2023 (Anti-Witchcraft Bill) to further enhance the protection of this vulnerable group and the consolidation of Ghana’s human rights record,” the statement added.

In a statement dated July 1, 2024, CHRAJ highlighted that the existence of witch camps and related practices have tarnished Ghana's international image and severely impacted the rights of elderly women, who are often the main victims.

CHRAJ emphasized that the bill is crucial for advancing gender equality and aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 5.

The commission stressed that, in a democratic society committed to human rights, timely action is essential.

CHRAJ called on President Akufo-Addo to resolve any constitutional issues related to the bill and sign it into law to better protect vulnerable groups and strengthen Ghana’s human rights record.

The commission's statement read“In the light of the foregoing, the Commission respectfully urges His Excellency the President of the Republic to take urgent steps including any legislative steps that will resolve any constitutional concerns raised by H.E the President in order to assent to the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill, 2023 (Anti-Witchcraft Bill) to further enhance the protection of this vulnerable group and the consolidation of Ghana’s human rights record".