Yahaya Alhassan, President of the New Ghana Social Justice Forum, has issued a direct appeal to foreign ambassadors in Ghana to visit the nation’s notorious witch camps, calling international attention to the systemic abuse of women accused of witchcraft.
The appeal coincided with Italy’s National Day celebrations at the Italian Ambassador’s residence, where Alhassan denounced the camps as relics of superstition and gender-based persecution.
Targeted diplomatic missions include those of Canada, Switzerland, the U.S., France, the UK, Lebanon, the EU, Italy, and Denmark. Alhassan emphasized that accused individuals—primarily widows, elderly women, and single mothers lacking social protection—face isolation and violence based on false beliefs. “Life’s misfortunes or illnesses are wrongly blamed on witchcraft,” he stated, noting many victims suffer from dementia or mental health conditions requiring care, not condemnation.
Alhassan’s advocacy previously contributed to Ghana’s 2022 Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill, which criminalized witchcraft accusations and banned witch doctors. However, he stressed that legislation alone is insufficient, urging Parliament to prioritize closing all camps. He cited the 2020 lynching of 90-year-old Akua Denteh as evidence of deadly consequences when accusations escalate unchecked.
The activist outlined a six-year plan to replace camps with modern housing offering rehabilitation and mental health support. “No greater legacy exists for diplomats than liberating innocent women and children—some as young as seven—from these conditions,” he declared, framing the issue as a humanitarian imperative requiring global solidarity.