NGO to mount photo exhibition on "witches camps"

Accra, Oct. 29, GNA - A non-governmental organisation, Southern Sector Youth and Women's Empowerment Network (SOSYWEN), will next Wednesday mount a photo exhibition in Accra, depicting the living conditions of women in "witches camps" in the Northern Region. The exhibition, to be held at the British Council Hall in Accra, is aimed at drawing the attention of policy makers and the Government to the impact of certain cultural practices that dehumanise the vulnerable in society, especially the elderly women and the disadvantaged.

A statement signed in Accra on Friday by Ms Zenabu L. Sakibu, Coordinator of SOSYWEN, said the exhibition would show the living conditions of the alleged "witches", their general environment, housing, health, food and nutrition as well as children who had been born in the three "witches camps" at Gnani, Kukuo and Gambaga.

It said the photo exhibition was part of a wider project known as the "witches camp integration project" being implemented by SOSYWEN in collaboration with the Information Services Department, Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice in the Northern Region, particularly Yendi, Bimbilla and Gambaga.

The exhibition is funded jointly by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and SOSYWEN. Similar exhibitions are planned for the Districts where the practice is taking place.

Ms Sakibu said: "This is not about feminism or gender. This is abuse of human rights and human dignity and the government has to act to put a stop to any cultural practice that dehumanises a people, tribe or gender. These people need to be helped not abused and banished from society."

She said in order to help solve the problem, specialised workshops on human rights, human health and welfare of the aged had been organised by SOSYWEN for traditional authorities, women and youth groups and community leaders in the affected districts.

Ms Sakibu added that educational programmes had also been launched and were on-going in Junior and Senior High Schools in the Yendi, Nanumba North and East Mamprusi Districts. 29 Oct. 10