NGO calls for laws to protect women accused of witchcraft

Kumasi , July 28, GNA - Participants at a learning forum for older people organized by Help-Age Ghana , an NGO, have called for more state protection for women, especially those accused of witchcraft.

They said the practice, where some of them are banished from their homes and subjected to all forms of disgraceful and dehumanizing ordeal must end.

The discussants said older people deserve support and empathy, but not condemnation.

More than 25 people drawn from Ghana and Burkina Faso attended the forum held at Jachie in the Bosomtwe District with sponsorship from the Irish Aid of United Kingdom (UK).

It is part of a three-year older citizens monitoring project (OCM) launched by the NGO to build the capacity of the aged to insist on improved service delivery at the community level.

Mrs Ama Ofori-Antwi, Project Officer of Help-Age Ghana , said their goal was to help influence local and national policies to address the rights issues of older people.

For this purpose, they had formed monitoring groups and paralegals to visit the various communities.

She said through the activities of the groups they are able to identify rights violations and the contributory factors.

Mrs Ofori-Antwi also spoke of the assistance they had been giving to the communities to help satisfy the needs of the aged.

Mr Bruno Ouadrago, Coordinator of the Burkina Faso Project, called for more of such exchange meetings to enable each other improve on their performance.

Other issues that came up for discussion included advocacy activities on the rights of the aged, pension and their health.

GNA