ABSTRACT
It is not an uncommon feature to see that women and children
in different places of our world being subjected to all forms of abuses.
Usually, their male counterparts do not face the same kind or level of abuses.
One common area where such abuses are clearly seen is in the performance of
cultural practices and customs. Apparently, belief in the existence and
activities of witches is prevalent among Africans and this belief is usually
accompanied with various accusations, physical abuses as well as emotional
tortures. These abuses and maltreatments have human rights implications that is
looked at critically. Many women who are unable to bear these accusations and
abuses escape the punishment of community folks and flee to established witch
camps that are meant to protect and sustain their lives. However, these camps
are unable to ensure the protection of their human rights. For the most, it is
religious groups and communities who successfully support them as they live at
the camp. The study practically examines how various accusations, abuses as
well as life at the witch camp have human rights implications, and attempt to
suggest various ways through which the rights of these inmates may be
protected. This study was conducted by employing methods of analysis such as
questionnaire, interviews, photographs, on site seeing and note taking as well
as literature from relevant sources. The study contributes to the pool of
knowledge which reveals that religious institutions, rather than the
government, have been instrumental in providing, promoting and preserving the
rights of the accused witches at the Gambaga witch camp.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Among many people, religion has
been viewed by secular institutions and scholars as being arguably, the problem
in development of human rights.1 Today, several philosophers and scholars have
added their voice to the debate that religion may rather be a tool that would
foster human rights development in our societies.2 Now than ever, there is an
increasing appreciation of the special contributions that religious beliefs, as
well as religious institutions would bring to the forefront in developing human
rights in our world.3
Human right abuses permeate all
countries and continents of the world. That is, although the focus of this work
is related to Northern Ghana, it is not only women and children who are in
Ghana or Africa, for example, who have had their rights trampled upon.4 In the
Gambaga witchcamp of Northern Ghana, many women and children are camped there
because they have been accused of witchcraft. Before these women and children
are brought to the camp, they are subjected to all kinds of maltreatment. Many
of these victims are insulted, stoned or tortured. Sometimes, it is the fear of
dying in the community that propels them to seek refuge at the witch
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Religious traditions and customs in
African societies have played a role in infringing the rights of women and
children.7 Such traditions include witchcraft accusations and the establishment
of witchcamps. The numerous accusations and abuses these women go through have
human right implications. These accused women suffer verbal abuse, physical
torture and emotional pains. They are often humiliated and insulted.
Unfortunately, many who could not make it to these established witch camps have
been burned and strangled to death.8 As stated, the Gambaga witch camp in the
Northern Region of Ghana was established over hundred years ago for women who
were accused of being witches. This witch camp was established to serve as
refuge for these accused witches.
At the witch camp, these accused
witches still suffer certain forms of discrimination. In the community, they
are often stigmatized and relegated to the background. As a result, they cannot
freely involve themselves and relate with the people of Gambaga. Such women and
children often find it difficult to freely move,
Women and children who have lived
all their lives at the camp are not given certain opportunities and privileges
like the others. There are no adequate educational facilities such as schools
and medical facilities like hospitals or clinics to cater for them. Victims
have no available institution to seek redress when they receive maltreatment
from people in the community. These situations often mar the human dignity, and
rights of women and children at the camp.10
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
When a woman is accused of being a
witch in a given community (especially Northern Ghana), she is threatened to be
punished unless she confesses her misdeeds. Mostly, particular women are
accused when unfortunate incidents begin to plague their families, friends or
even neighborhood. Usually, these women will be subjected to beatings, torture,
insults and other forms of abuse in the community. Being accused, these alleged
witches ran away to the Gambaga witch camp quickly for fear of punishment and
sudden death.
These alleged witches at the camp
find it difficult to relate freely with other people in the community. They are
often jeered at, mocked at and overly humiliated. Such stigma makes it
difficult for these accused women and children to feel their worth
Such actions and inactions of some members of the community
towards the accused witches have human right implications. As a result of such
abuses, their dignity and freedoms are not assured. The problem this thesis
seeks to address is, how the human rights of women and children accused of
witchcraft and have taken refuge in witch-camps in Ghana may be protected. The
Gambaga witch camp is used as a case-study.
1.3 RESEARCH QUESTION
The main question this thesis sought to answer has been:
To what extent can the accused witches in witch camps in
Ghana have their human rights protected? In order to deal comprehensively with
the issues involved, the following sub- question was also raised:
In which ways is the situation of the accused witches in the
witch-camps in Ghana a human rights issue?
1.4 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
The primary objective of this study is to establish how the
confinement of women and children accused of witchcraft in witch-camps in Ghana
may be regarded a human rights issue. Related to this objective is to recommend
ways in which the human rights of the inmates of these camps may be protected.
1.5 METHODOLOGY
Qualitative method of researching was employed for this
research work. By this, we conducted in- depth interviews with fifteen accused
witches at the Gambaga camp. Key religious persons in the community such as the
pastor of Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Gambaga and his Catechist were
interviewed. The chief Imam of Gambaga community was also interviewed and the
Gambag-rana (Chief of Gambaga) was as well interviewed. Data was collected from
both primary and secondary sources. The primary sources of data collection
included various interviews and field findings. Secondary sources of collecting
data included related information in books, internet sources, magazines, as
well as journal articles.
Again, we employed descriptive analysis when we were
interpreting various interviews. Some pictures were taken in order to give a
comprehensive view of the Gambaga witch camp, the inmates who were interviewed,
the leaders of the various religious groups as well as on-going projects that
would help improve their lives and wellbeing.
1.6 RELEVANCE OF THE STUDY
In the discourse of religion and human rights, there is a
need to have a newer look at the human rights issues prevailing at the Gambaga
witch camp. This knowledge will help us find out what the current state of the
accused witches are on one hand, and how their freedoms can be promoted on the
other hand. Again, this work is relevant because it can provide essential information for
human rights activists, opinion leaders, religious leaders as well as
government machinery in appreciating prevailing human rights issues in Gambaga
area.
1.7 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY
When people are accused of being witches in the community,
they are often manhandled and subjected to various forms of brutalities. Many
of these women have sustained fatal injuries on their bodies. Few have died as
a result of the fatal beatings they received. Women and children who are
accused have the right to life, and security. They must not undergo any
physical harassment and torture because of these accusations. Alleged witches
who survive or escape these painful practices move out (willingly or unwillingly)
from their communities and flee to the Gambaga witch camp. This witchcamp has
served as refuge for accused women who might have as well been dead if they
hesitated on coming to the witch camp.
The accused witches who managed to seek refuge at the camp
are not able to associate themselves freely with other people in the Gambaga
community. They are often scandalized and stigmatized in the community. The
social amenities and facilities that are available at the camp do not
adequately promote their basic needs. Food, shelter, clothing, medical needs as
well as educational needs are insufficient. All these situations are human
rights issues. The Gambaga witch camp area is a typical example of an
environment that have prevailing human rights issues against women and
children.
Gambaga is a small town located 150km north of Tamale in
(Northern Region of) Ghana.11 The three northern regions of Ghana- Upper East,
Upper West and Northern Region- are said to be the poorest regions of Ghana in
terms of standard of living and economic development.12 The economic activities
of the men are stone quarrying, farming and trading. Most of the women engage
in small scale farming and trading. Because of the high poverty levels,
inadequate medical facilities as well as massive unemployment, hardships such
as infant and maternal mortality, outbreak of sicknesses and sudden deaths are
on the rise.13
The Gambaga witchcamp is an isolated community within the
Gambaga Township in the Northern Region of Ghana. It is believed to have been
established in the 18th century in an attempt to provide shelter for women who
were accused of being witches.14 Thus, when an accused witch was banished from
the community, she would have to go to the witchcamp as her only safe and
available destination.15 There are more than 100 alleged witches in the
witchcamp.16 Most of these women are widows. It is believed that they used
their witchcraft powers to kill their husbands. Others are accused of bringing
misfortunes such as diseases, loss of
1.9 LIMITATION AND DELIMITATIONS OF
THE STUDY
The indigenous language of the
people posed a challenge in our research work. As a result, we needed the
services of an interpreter. He served as a channel for us, and the accused
witches in our interview. Again, he interpreted certain scenes we observed at
the camp to our understanding. This thesis is under the interplay between
religion and human rights. However, such an area is too broad to be covered. So
the focus of this thesis is to identify how women and children who have been
accused of witchcraft and have taken refuge in witchcamps may be protected.
1.9.0 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
Chapter One of the dissertation
included the General Introduction, Background of the Study, Statement of the
Problem, Research Question, Research Objective, Research Unit and Location as
well as the Literature Review. Chapter Two discussed the belief and practice of
witchcraft in African religions. Chapter Three discussed Gambaga witchcamp and
its related human rights issues. In Chapter Four, we collected and analyzed
relevant data that has been received through field
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