We’ll do everything to get Anti‑Witchcraft Accusation Bill passed — Madina MP

The Member of Parliament for Madina, Dr. Francis Xavier Sossu, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring the Anti-Witchcraft Accusation Bill becomes law.

The bill, formally known as the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2023, seeks to criminalize accusing, naming, or labelling individuals as witches, aiming to protect victims from abuse.

Although Parliament passed it in July 2023, the bill did not receive presidential assent under former President Nana Akufo-Addo, due to concerns over financial and human rights implications.

Dr. Xavier Sossu, speaking at an event in Accra on Monday, March 9, expressed hope that the legislation will garner bipartisan support.

“The private members Bill committee of parliament is considering that bill… I am hoping that the Minister for Gender would present this bill before cabinet, so they will bring it to Parliament, so we can even pass it under a certificate of urgency.

“But I can assure stakeholders, if Minister does not do that, whatever we have to do as private members of parliament to ensure that this bill gets passed, we will do it,” he said.

The Madina MP added that broad support from parliamentarians and the public will be critical to the bill’s success.

“If every member of parliament is committed to this, if all the women members of parliament are committed to this, if the Speaker of Parliament is committed to this… we should be able to pass this bill,” he stated.