“Do not close down witch camps in Northern Ghana

 

I have had the opportunity of visiting all the so-called witch camps in the Northern region. During my visit, I interacted with alleged witches and managers of these places. I cannot imagine how anybody in his or her wildest dream would want to close down places where some alleged witches told me they found ‘some peace’.

The problem is that those who are campaigning for the closure of the witch camps are confusing so many things and this confusion, if not promptly addressed, will further put at risk the lives of the vulnerable women and men at these places. The confusion is likely to lead to more human rights abuses.

To avoid creating more problems, I suggest that campaigners and their partners try and ensure that thoughtfulness and proper understanding of the situation on the ground inform the process. Hence I would like to draw their attention to two critical points.

First of all, the witch camps are not places where ‘witches’ are camped and tortured, as some people seem to think. The local Dagbani name for these ‘witch camps’ is Tindan, which roughly translates as shrines. So, ‘witch camps’ are shrines. The Dagomba call the ‘witch camp’ in Gnani, ‘Gnani Tindan’, that is Gnani shrine. But the ‘witch camp’ shrines are not like any other shrine. They are special shrines that provide protection to alleged witches who were banished from their communities or those of them who fled to avoid being killed by their accusers. The witch camps are places of refuge. They serve as safety nets for alleged witches. They provide alternative homes for victims of witchcraft accusations.

Should we not focus our energy on tackling the disease and not the symptom? When the campaigners close down the witch camps without combating witchcraft accusations, are they not doubly victimizing the alleged witches? Where do they expects victims of alleged witches who have been banished from their communities to go?

All those who are concerned about the existence of ‘witch camps’ in Northern Ghana should rather campaign to stop witchcraft accusations, and not to close down the witch camps. All resources should be channeled into stopping allegations of witchcraft and witch hunting. We need to get the people in Northern Ghana to abandon the practice of branding people witches.

If the practice of witchcraft accusation stops, the witch camps will simply disappear.

 EDITOR’S NOTE : This guest post was written by Leo Igwe. You can reach him at nskepticleo@yahoo.com