Former First Lady Lordina Mahama will lead the reintegration of inmates of witch camps into their various communities if her husband former president and leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahama wins the 2024 elections.
These camps, which are a reminder of the country’s failure to eradicate inhumane cultural practices, are situated in parts of the North East Region and house people mostly old and vulnerable accused of witchcraft.
Gender advocates and various groups have, for more than a decade now, been calling for the closure of such settlements.
The closure, they argue, will be a major step to bringing an end to the barbaric treatment meted out to the marginalized in society, who often fall victims to these accusations.
The former first lady, who has been at the centre of that advocacy, in previous visits to the camps bemoaned the emotional and psychological trauma victims of such accusations suffer due to the inhumane treatment they are subjected to and called for their closure.
She has on a number of occasions supported the inmates with basic necessities but now intends to play an instrumental role in their reintegration if the bill proscribing such accusations is assented into law.
This was revealed by her husband during his courtesy call on the Gambarana, the paramount chief of the Gambaga traditional area as part of his Building Ghana Tour of the North East Region.
Parliament, last year, passed the Criminal Offenses Amendment Bill 2023, seeking to criminalize accusing and labelling people as witches and wizards.
But the passage of the bill into law hit a snag after the president refused to give it his assent over constitutional concerns.
But addressing chiefs and people of Gambaga, Mr. Mahama said his wife intends to lead the reintegration of inmates of the witch camps into their communities if he is elected president again and the bill receives presidential assent.
“I bring him greetings from his daughter Lordina. She was here recently to visit her project at the witches camp. She says that she hopes that if NDC wins the elections, parliament has passed the anti-witchcraft bill and it is awaiting the signature of the president and if the president signs, she would involve herself in how to rehabilitate the women back in their communities where they come from,” Mr. Mahama told the chief and his elders.
