Member of Parliament for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu is impressing upon President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to sign into law the Anti-Witchcraft bill before his term ends.
The 2023 bill, when signed into law, will outlaw witch-finding and prohibit labelling others as witches.
Despite its passage by Parliament, elderly people, especially, still face mob attacks, like a recent incident in Nyambong in the Oti Region where an elderly man was reportedly beaten to a pulp over wizardry allegations.
President Akufo-Addo expressed concerns about the bill’s financial implications when signed into law.
Speaking to Citi News, Francis-Xavier Sosu condemned these attacks, arguing that the president’s inaction emboldens perpetrators.
“It is quite sad and very unfortunate that those things continue to occur, despite the fact that we have been speaking and advocating against it. But then again, I think we must lay the blame right at the forefront of the president of the Republic of Ghana because our advocacy is incomplete unless this advocacy leads to legislation.
“Thank God last year we were able to pass the anti-witchcraft bill which seeks to prohibit the calling, the naming and labelling of other people as witches.
“I think there is just a lack of commitment from the president to do what is needed. I think the reasons given for which reason the bill has not been signed are not tenable because the bill didn’t just get passed at the go. The bill went through different processes before it got to the stage where it was passed into law. And so those concerns raised by the president obviously are non-existent.
“And I think if the president really, really wants to show that he is committed to human rights, protection of the elderly and the aged people, he should sign this bill before he leaves office.”
Source: citinewsroom.com
