Member of Parliament for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu is urging President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to sign the Anti-Witchcraft bill before his term expires.
When passed into law in 2023, the bill will make witch-hunting illegal and prohibit labeling people as witches.
Despite its adoption by Parliament, older persons, in particular, continue to endure mob attacks, as seen in a recent incident in Nyambong, Oti Region, where an elderly man was reportedly beaten to a pulp over wizardry charges.
Concerns regarding the bill’s financial effects upon becoming law were voiced by President Akufo-Addo.
Francis-Xavier Sosu denounced these attacks and argued that the President’s inaction gives the attackers more confidence in an interview with Citi News.
“The fact that those things still happen in spite of our vocal and forceful opposition to them is quite depressing and regrettable. That being said, I believe that the President of the Republic of Ghana should bear the brunt of the blame for our lack of success in passing laws.
“We are grateful that last year’s Anti-Witchcraft bill, which aims to outlaw referring to, identifying, or classifying others as witches, was passed.
“I believe that the President simply lacks the will to take the necessary action. Because the bill wasn’t passed at once, I believe the justifications offered for why it hasn’t been signed are unjustified. Before being voted into law, the measure went through a number of distinct stages of processing. Consequently, it is clear that the President’s complaints are baseless.
“And I think if the President really wants to show that he is committed to human rights, protection of the elderly and aged people, he should sign this bill before he leaves office” , he stated.
BY: APPIANIMAA MERCY
