France, April 20 -- Ghanaian authorities have failed to protect the human rights of hundreds of women accused of witchcraft, Amnesty International has warned. Attacks by their accusers are forcing them to flee their communities in fear for their lives, taking shelter in camps with rudimentary facilities.
The human rights NGO interviewed 93 people who had been accused of witchcraft living in four camps in northern Ghana over the last two years - 82 of them women, most aged 50 to 90.
The resulting report, entitledBranded for Life,details how those sheltering in these camps, run by traditional priests, have poor access to health services, food, clean water and economic opportunities.
When teams from Amnestyvisited the camps in November 2023...