Member Of Parliament For Bunkpurugu Defends Gambaga Chief

Accra, (Greater Accra Region) 15 Oct. Mr. Joseph Yaani Labik, Member of Parliament for Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo, has described as 'unfortunate and unfair' reports in a section of the media that the chief of Gambaga is exploiting so- called witches and wizards in his care. ''The Gambaga Rana (chief) has only placed facilities at the disposal of these people and they work on his land and make a living," Mr. Labik said in a press statement today. ''The Gambaga Rana only does this as a humanitarian gesture by offering a safe haven or security to these persons who are often molested, beaten up or lynched by their families or people in the community.'' He said comments by a section of the press to the effect that the chief has rounded up these unfortunate persons and forced them to work on his farm and perform other menial jobs for him, are unsavoury and unfair. Mr. Labik said these 'witches and wizards' voluntarily seek security in Gambaga, and denied that the chief keeps agents who round them up for ''the so-called camps.'' He suggested that instead of the media attacking the chief, they should mobilise support for him to strengthen his resolve in re- integrating these persons into their communities and families. He said the residences of these unfortunate persons are not camps but ''pokkuran fong'' or old women's section of the chief's residence. The case of the Gambaga 'witches and wizards' has received a lot of publicity of late, following a statement by the Commissioner of Human Rights and Administrative Justice that witchcraft is not a crime.