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Hon. Francis Xavier, MP for Madina Abokobi, praises Amnesty International Ghana and CSOs for dialogue on abolishing witchcraft accusations to protect vulnerable elderly women and advance SDGs.
Accra, Ghana – April 17, 2025 – The Member of Parliament for the Madina Abokobi Constituency, Hon. Francis Xavier, has lauded Amnesty International Ghana and other civil society organisations (CSOs) for convening a critical stakeholder dialogue on witchcraft accusations in Ghana.
In a statement issued today, Hon. Xavier emphasized that ending witchcraft accusations is essential to upholding the rights and dignity of vulnerable elderly women, a group disproportionately targeted by this harmful practice.
> “As a society, we must collectively resolve to end witchcraft accusations to guarantee the rights of vulnerable elderly women and help accelerate the promotion of human dignity and development for all,” the MP said.
Hon. Xavier also called on the 9th Parliament to seize this momentum by proscribing witchcraft accusations in law, aligning the effort with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
SDG 1: Zero Poverty
SDG 2: No Hunger
SDG 3: Good Health and Well‑Being
SDG 5: Gender Equality
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
> “Together, I am confident that this Parliament can ensure the realisation of these SDGs by addressing an age‑old practice that undermines our social and economic progress,” he added.
The MP’s endorsement underscores the importance of multi‑stakeholder collaboration—from government to grassroots—to build a free, fair, progressive, and just society.
About the Dialogue:
The stakeholder meeting brought together CSOs, traditional leaders, human rights experts, and survivors to share experiences, identify legal gaps, and propose concrete legislative and community‑based interventions.
