The United States government is in full support of the Ghanaian government’s desire to disband the six remaining witch camps scattered all over the Northern Region.
[contextly_sidebar id=”caxSL1BheG6L24V6mCa2vfLms9MhzWvG”]The US government is already committing enough resources and collaborating with the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture to achieve this goal.
The US Ambassador to Ghana, Gene Cretz at a media briefing in Tamale lauded the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection, the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, Songtaba and Action Aid Ghana for disbanding the Bonyase witch camp in the Central Gonja District.
“While closing the Bonyase camp is a laudable achievement, it is incumbent upon all of us to ensure that those leaving the camp can return and thrive in their home communities in safety and dignity.”
Ambassador Gene Cretz said the US government will continue to support the Ghanaian government to promote human rights.
“We applaud the Ghanaian government for recognizing that traditional practices such as the detention of accused witches in witch camps, female genital mutilation, early and forced marriage and widowhood rites amount to serious violations and demand action.”
He maintained that no human beings deserved to be ostracized from their communities and stripped of their potentials because of alleged witchcraft.
According to him, it was incumbent on all the major stakeholders championing the disbandment and reintegration project to ensure the safety and dignity of the reintegrated women by adopting the stakeholder approach.
As part of his visit, the US Ambassador to Ghana met with the National Peace Council, WANEP-Ghana and other civil society organizations.
Ambassador Gene Cretz later inspected some ongoing projects in the Northern Region funded by the USAID.
During his second visit to the Gnani alleged witches camp in the Yendi Municipality, Ambassador Gene Cretz donated education and sporting materials worth 40,000 US Dollars to the Gnani primary school.
The donation comprised school uniforms, exercise books, school bags, foot wears, laptops, several cartons of bottle water and footballs.
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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com