From wise woman to mutilated hag: Witchcraft violence in Ghana

Gender based witchcraft violence in Ghana is one of the ways in which violence against women manifests itself in the society. Historical analysis of witchcraft in Africa is widely addressed in the literature, however, there is a comparative neglect of the gender dimensions of witchcraft violence and consequences for such women in terms of human rights violations. Within the northern agriculture regions of Ghana, the legitimacy of female land inheritance, in addition to government pressure to seek out western medical care instead of low-cost traditional herbalists, are threatening power structures and sparking witchcraft violence. Locating witchcraft violence in Ghana within the human rights discourse of the women's movement tells a horrific story of modern femicide. Grassroots organizations which seek to honor and respect elderly women suspected of witchcraft points to women's resistance to oppressive structures while demanding action based initiatives from the state to improve the lives of women.