Five months after the passage of the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2022 by Parliament, which stipulates penalties for accusing individuals of being witches, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is yet to give his assent to formalize it as law. As a consequence, the bill that criminalizes the act of accusing someone of being a witch is not currently in effect.
The Minority, led by the MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, has emphasized that the President's delay in assenting to the bill represents a constitutional breach that should not be overlooked. Citing Article 106 (7) (8) (9) (10), the Minority outlines the procedural requirements for the President's response to a bill passed by Parliament.
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Remarkably, the President has not issued an official explanation for the delay, causing consternation among members of the Minority. In response, the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, defended the President's actions, noting that the President had identified technical challenges in the bill and was arranging to meet with the Speaker to address them prior to enacting the bill into law.'
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However, these developments have sparked debates and raised questions regarding the bill's current status. The Speaker, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, observed that although the bill had been passed, it inexplicably reappeared on the Order Paper for reconsideration, prompting him to direct its immediate removal. Speaker Bagbin underscored the need for Parliament to be taken seriously, emphasizing the gravity of the legislative process.
The bill, introduced to explicitly criminalize the accusation of witchcraft and prohibit the practice of branding individuals as witches, represents a significant step in addressing human rights violations stemming from witchcraft allegations. It is part of a broader effort to respond to attacks and rights abuses resulting from witchcraft accusations.
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The unanimous support garnered during the bill's debate underscores the widespread consensus among Members of Parliament that all witchcraft activities and accusations of witchcraft should be criminalized, alongside the abolition of witch camps in the country.
The bill's proponents, including MPs Francis-Xavier Sosu, Hajia Laadi Ayii Ayamba, Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw, Helen Adjoa Ntoso, and Betty Nana Efua Krosbi Mensah, laid the groundwork for its introduction in Parliament. The collective effort sought to address the pressing need for legal measures to confront the adverse impacts of witchcraft accusations and related practices.
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