Member of Parliament (MP) for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu together with nine (9) other MPs has reintroduced the Anti-Witchcraft Accusation Bill to parliament.
The bill is aimed at criminalizing witchcraft and protecting vulnerable elderly women.
The bill was passed by Parliament in July 2023 but was never signed into law by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who cited constitutional concerns.
Despite widespread support, including a call from the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) urging its passage, the bill lapsed with the dissolution of the 8th Parliament.
Determined to see the bill become law, Sosu has rallied nine other MPs to push it through the 9th Parliament.
The nine MPs include;
- Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor (South Dayi)
- Comfort Doyoe (Ada)
- Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw (Wa East)
- Hajia Laadi Ayii Ayamba (Pusiga)
- Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi (Asante-Akim Central)
- Helen Adjoa Ntoso (Krachi West)
- Dzifa Gomashie (Ketu South)
- Zuwera Ibrahimah (Salaga South)
- Rita Naa Odoley Sowah (La-Dadekotopon).
Sosu insists he will not rest until the bill is passed, ensuring elderly women’s dignity and protection under Ghana’s constitution and international human rights treaties.
On July 28, 2023, Ghana’s Parliament passed the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which amends the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) to ban the practices of witch doctors and witch finders, and to prohibit the declaration, accusation, or labelling of individuals as witches.
However, President Akufo-Addo at the time indicated that he was not going to sign private members’ bills into law once they imposed a charge on the Consolidated Fund.
The Private Member’s Bill was sponsored by Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu (NDC MP for Madina) along with other NDC MPs: Hajia Laadi Ayii Ayamba, Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw, Madam Helen Adjoa Ntoso, and Madam Betty Nana Efua Krosbi Mensah.
He emphasised that such proposals should come from the executive arm of government. This includes the bill sponsored by Mr Sosu to abolish the death penalty and proscribe witchcraft accusations.
