This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(December 2021)
Witch camps are settlements where women in Ghana who have been accused of being witches can flee for safety. Women in such camps have been accused of witchcraft for various reasons, including mental illness. Some camps are thought to have been created in the early 20th century.[1] The Ghanaian government has enacted measures to eliminate such camps.[2]
Women suspected of being witches sometimes flee to witch camp settlements for safety, often in order to avoid being lynched by neighbours.[3][4][5][6][7][8]
Many women in such camps are widows; relatives are believed to accuse them of witchcraft in order to seize their late husbands' possessions.[8] Many women in the witch camps also suffer from mental illness, a poorly understood phenomenon in Ghana.[9][8] In one camp in Gambaga in the north, women are given protection by the local chieftain, and in return, pay him and work in his fields.[10][11]
The Anti-Witchcraft Allegations Campaign Coalition-Ghana (AWACC-Ghana) has reported that the number of outcasts residing in witch camps is growing, and that food supplies there are insufficient.[12]
Locationsedit
There are at least six witch camps in Ghana, housing a total of approximately 1,000 women.[8] The camps are located in Bonyasi, Gambaga, Gnani, Kpatinga, Kukuo and Naabuli, all in Northern Ghana.[13] Some of the camps are thought to have been created over 100 years ago.[8][12][14][15][16][17]
The Ghanaian government has announced its intent to close the witch camps and educate the public that witches do not exist.[18][8] In December 2014, Minister for Gender and Social Protection Nana Oye Lithur disbanded the Bonyasi camp located in Central Gonja District and re-integrated its residents into their communities.[19] As of 2015, the Ghanaian government had shut down several witch camps.[20]
^Igwe, Leo (13 June 2022). "Witch Camps and Politics of Witchcraft Accusations In Ghana | News Ghana". newsghana.com.gh/. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
^Meryer, Naa (2022-06-03). "TSI visits alleged witch camps with ActionAid Ghana and members of parliament". TSI - The Sanneh Institute | Offering scholarship as a tribute to God. Retrieved 2022-08-14.
^Briggs, Philip; Connolly, Sean (5 December 2016). Ghana. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN9781784770341. Retrieved 14 November 2017 – via Google Books.
^Dixon, Robyn (9 September 2012). "In Ghana's witch camps, the accused are never safe". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 14 November 2017 – via LATimes.com.
^Suuk, Maxwell (July 10, 2016). "Ghana: witchcraft accusations put lives at risk - Africa". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 17 March 2017 – via dw.com.
^Murray, Jacqueline; Wallace, Lauren (2013-11-25). "In Africa, accusations of witchcraft still a reality for many women". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2016-09-15.
^"In Ghana, Witch Villages Offer Safe Haven From Superstition". Los Angeles Times. 25 January 1998. Retrieved May 23, 2014 – via latimes.com.
^ abcdef"Ghana witch camps: Widows' lives in exile". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 1 September 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Witch camps in Ghana.
Video by Yaba Badoe about women in Ghanaian camps
January 01, 1970
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This article needs to be updated Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information December 2021 Witch camps are settlements where women in Ghana who have been accused of being witches can flee for safety Women in such camps have been accused of witchcraft for various reasons including mental illness Some camps are thought to have been created in the early 20th century 1 The Ghanaian government has enacted measures to eliminate such camps 2 Witch camp in Nalerigu Ghana Contents 1 Description 2 Locations 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDescription editWomen suspected of being witches sometimes flee to witch camp settlements for safety often in order to avoid being lynched by neighbours 3 4 5 6 7 8 Many women in such camps are widows relatives are believed to accuse them of witchcraft in order to seize their late husbands possessions 8 Many women in the witch camps also suffer from mental illness a poorly understood phenomenon in Ghana 9 8 In one camp in Gambaga in the north women are given protection by the local chieftain and in return pay him and work in his fields 10 11 The Anti Witchcraft Allegations Campaign Coalition Ghana AWACC Ghana has reported that the number of outcasts residing in witch camps is growing and that food supplies there are insufficient 12 Locations editThere are at least six witch camps in Ghana housing a total of approximately 1 000 women 8 The camps are located in Bonyasi Gambaga Gnani Kpatinga Kukuo and Naabuli all in Northern Ghana 13 Some of the camps are thought to have been created over 100 years ago 8 12 14 15 16 17 The Ghanaian government has announced its intent to close the witch camps and educate the public that witches do not exist 18 8 In December 2014 Minister for Gender and Social Protection Nana Oye Lithur disbanded the Bonyasi camp located in Central Gonja District and re integrated its residents into their communities 19 As of 2015 the Ghanaian government had shut down several witch camps 20 See also editGambaga Witch camp Witchcraft in Ghana Prayer camps Spirit children Ritual servitude Fetish priestReferences edit Igwe Leo 13 June 2022 Witch Camps and Politics of Witchcraft Accusations In Ghana News Ghana newsghana com gh Retrieved 2022 08 14 Meryer Naa 2022 06 03 TSI visits alleged witch camps with ActionAid Ghana and members of parliament TSI The Sanneh Institute Offering scholarship as a tribute to God Retrieved 2022 08 14 Briggs Philip Connolly Sean 5 December 2016 Ghana Bradt Travel Guides ISBN 9781784770341 Retrieved 14 November 2017 via Google Books Dixon Robyn 9 September 2012 In Ghana s witch camps the accused are never safe Los Angeles Times Retrieved 14 November 2017 via LATimes com Suuk Maxwell July 10 2016 Ghana witchcraft accusations put lives at risk Africa Deutsche Welle Retrieved 17 March 2017 via dw com Murray Jacqueline Wallace Lauren 2013 11 25 In Africa accusations of witchcraft still a reality for many women The Globe and Mail Retrieved 2016 09 15 In Ghana Witch Villages Offer Safe Haven From Superstition Los Angeles Times 25 January 1998 Retrieved May 23 2014 via latimes com a b c d e f Ghana witch camps Widows lives in exile bbc co uk BBC 1 September 2012 Retrieved September 1 2012 Breaking the spell of witch camps in Ghana CBC ca Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Retrieved 14 November 2017 Spellbound Inside the witch camps of West Africa Salon com 24 October 2010 Retrieved 14 November 2017 Badoe Yaba 25 November 2010 Ghana the Witches of Gambaga The Guardian London Retrieved September 1 2012 a b Npong Francis 2014 Witch Camps of Ghana Utne Reader Winter 48 49 Retrieved 10 January 2015 Ansah Marian Efe 8 December 2014 Bonyase witches camp shuts down on Dec 15 Citifmonline Retrieved April 1 2015 Cameron Duodu Why are witches still being burned alive in Ghana Cameron Duodu Opinion The Guardian Retrieved 2016 09 15 Women still accused of witchcraft lynched in Ghana PDF Whrin org Retrieved 14 November 2017 Condemned without trial PDF Actionaid org uk Retrieved 14 November 2017 Lucy Adams Spellbound the stigma of witchcraft in Ghana PDF Ec europa eu Retrieved 14 November 2017 Ghana s witch camps last refuge of the powerless and the persecuted Independent co uk 26 August 2012 Retrieved 14 November 2017 Naatogmah Abdul Karim 16 December 2014 Gov t disbands Bonyase witch camps Citifmonline com Retrieved April 1 2015 Igwe Leo Ghana news Witchcraft accusation Graphic Online Retrieved 13 September 2017 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Witch camps in Ghana Video by Yaba Badoe about women in Ghanaian camps Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Witch camp amp oldid 1171080811, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
