The vice presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2020 elections has joined calls from a large section of Ghanaians to condemn the lynching of a 90-year-old woman at Kafaba near Salaga in the Savannah Region on accusations that she was a witch.
The former Minister of Education under the Mahama administration expressed her sadness over the unfortunate incident describing it as despicable and barbaric.
While condemning the lynching of the woman, she underscored the need to love and protect the elderly in society.
“I condemn in the strongest terms this barbaric act which has left me, like many I can imagine deeply sad, indeed. The elderly in our society rather deserve our love and protection, not this level of unspeakable cruelty.” She stated in a post on social media.
She argued that “Old age cannot be synonymous to witchcraft” and urged for the building of “a fair, just and gender sensitive society that respects and values everyone, no matter their age.”
The first female Vice-chancellor of a Ghanaian University is calling on the security agencies to swiftly investigate the incident and prosecute all those found culpable. She further called for intensified public education in order to forestall such occurrences.
She said “I hope we shall work together to raise the level of public education to forestall such tragic occurrences.”
Background
The 90-year-old woman identified as Akua Denteh was lynched at Kafaba near Salaga in the Savannah Region after she was accused of being a witch. The frail old woman was beaten mercilessly to death by other women in the presence of community members after a soothsayer accused her of being a witch and causing misfortunes in the community.
A video that has since gone viral captured the torturing of the 90-year-old woman. In the video, the old woman was seen pleading for her life to be spared while denying the allegations of being a witch but her plea and denial fell on deaf ears as the perpetrators pushed her to the ground and subjected her to severe beatings and torturing.
The disturbing video has sparked public outcry with many calling for the perpetrators to be brought to book.
The Savannah Regional Police Command has since taken over the matter following a report to the Salaga Police by the family. The Regional police, Graphic Online reported, have mounted a search for one Tanko and his accomplices for allegedly masterminding the killing of Akua Denteh.
Meanwhile, the mortal remains of Akua Denteh have been buried in Salaga after an autopsy was conducted on the body at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH).
