The Overlord of Dagbon, Ya Naa Abukari II, has condemned the killing of Safura Imoro, a middle-aged woman in her forties and Mba Cherefo, both residents of Zakpalsi in the Mion district of the northern region.
The two were allegedly lynched by the community members earlier this month following the death of a woman who accused them of bewitching her.
Addressing a factfinding delegation led by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hajia Lariba Abudu, at the Gbewa palace on Thursday (May 25, 2023), the Ya Naa described the incident as barbaric and unfortunate to have occurred.
“None of the victims has come to report the matter to me. Anytime some of these issues are brought to my notice in the palace, we always resolve them amicably and some of the DCEs can attest to that.
“The two families involved in this particular matter are all my subjects and the community is under jurisdiction. What happened is unjustifiably because when you allow anger to take over you, it worsens every situation at hand” he bemoaned.
The Dagbon King however reiterated his commitment to collaborate with his subordinate chiefs to intensify the sensitization and public education to prevent the continuous killing of alleged witches in the area.
For her part, Hajia Lariba Abudu said the law will in due course catch up with the perpetrators to face justice to serve as deterrent to others.
The Minister who doubles as Member of Parliament for Walewale expressed worry about the persistent lynching of individuals accused of witchcraft in the northern part of the country.
She also encouraged the people to always seek early medical attention since most of the accusations bothers on health and desist from lynching the alleged witches which she stressed is against the fundamental human rights of the victims.
“We should always encourage the people to go to the hospital for medical attention before any other thing. If nothing is found wrong medically then you can come home and treat with local herbs” she emphasized.
Meanwhile, the Gender Minister was accompanied to the Gbewaa palace by the Chief Director of the Ministry, Dr Afisah Zakariah, Director for the Department of Gender, Ms. Faustina Acheampong, Northern Regional Police Commander, among other Regional Directors of Gender and Social Welfare.
