Chief Condemns Lynching of Witchcraft Suspects

Bongo (UE), Dec 12, GNA- The Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area in the Upper East Region, Naba Baba Salifu Alameyarom, on Tuesday cautioned the people of the area against lynching witchcraft suspects.

He condemned the act, saying it was wrong to brutalise or kill old people suspected to be witches.

He made the observation in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Bongo.

He cited instances where three people were lynched this year in the district and said the police could not find enough evidence to prosecute perpetrators of the crimes because family members of both parties preferred to settle such cases at home and refused to cooperate.

The Chief pointed out that the law does not permit anybody to take the laws into their own hands by trampling upon the rights of others. Naba Alameyarcom said he had already asked his sub-chiefs to educate their subjects to stop lynching people in the area or else when caught they would be severely dealt with.

He appealed to the Government to put up more sub-police stations in the District to help stem the tide of crime.

The Paramount Chief lauded the idea of the introduction of community-policing concept by the Government and urged the District Assembly to expedite action and implement the concept, as it would help reduce the crime wave in the District.