Hagan tells Ghanaians to change mindset about witchcraft

Professor George Hagan, former Chairman of the National Commission on Culture, has underscored the need for Ghanaians to change their mind set about witchcraft.

Witchcraft, he explained, is the belief in the internal logic of African worldview, which views human existence as a dual, spiritual and
Professor Hagan was speaking at a two-day workshop organized by the Cultural Initiative Support Programme (CISP) in Kumasi at the weekend under the auspices of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, to sensitise the public on witchcraft, which has become a human right issue in some communities.

“Conference on Culture, Witchcraft and Human Right (Phase II),” was the theme for the workshop, and about 40 participants from culture, arts and sociology related backgrounds as well as civil society groups attended the workshop.

Prof Hagan, who is also a consultant on Cultural Anthropology noted that, it is about time for Ghana to enforce its laws to change the ill-treatment of people accused of witchcraft and put in place pragmatic measures to remove the factors that lead to such accusations.

Mr Kwasi Gyan- Apenteng, Programme Co-ordinator of CISP indicated that the programme was initiated to create a platform to engage stakeholders to examine and interrogate issues in the cultural domain and how they affect individuals, communities and the nation as a whole.

He said it was disheartening to know that people do not take pragmatic efforts to attempt to deal with witchcraft and its human rights consequences but rather, level accusations against innocent women and children, especially those in very poor circumstances.

The Co-ordinator called on the government and district assemblies to enforce the laws to punish those who commit violence against people accused of practicing witchcraft in the society.

Source: GNA