The sorcerer alleged to have masterminded the lynching of the 90-year-old woman, Akua Denteh at Kafaba near Salaga in the Savannah Region has been arrested.
Identified as Sherina Mohammed aged 40, the suspect was picked up at her hide-out at Yeji yesterday (August 3, 2020).
She is currently in Police custody.
Sherina Mohammed, is said to have pronounced the 90-year-old Akua Denteh as a witch and allegedly ordered her lynching at Kafaba in the East Gonja Municipality.
Our Northern Regional Correspondent, Murtala Issah reports that CSO’s and the Community have welcomed the latest news, stressing that it demonstrates the commitment of the Police to bringing justice to Akua Denteh.
Condemnation of the murder of late Akua Denteh at Kafaba in the East Gonja District of the Savannah Region continues to pour in especially as more arrests are being made to bring perpetrators of the crime to book.
When GBC’s Radio Ghana hit the streets to seek public views, most Ghanaians were disappointed with the turn of events and called for attitudinal change to check the trend of ‘’mob justice’’.
Meanwhile, Pressure Group, Occupy Ghana says unless there is a move to change the deeply-held belief systems and do away with superstitions that witches dwell among us and are responsible for most misfortunes, these assaults and lynching of poor women will not stop.
In a statement, it said what occurred at Kafaba, before the murder happened, was a trial by ordeal, which is a second-degree felony under section 315 or Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
Therefore, each person captured on the video as being present is guilty of the misdemeanor of being present when the crime was taking place, under section 316 of the Act.
For their role in not taking any step to prevent the crime, all those persons are guilty of a second degree misdemeanor under section 22 of the Act.
Occupy Ghana is therefore calling for the arrest of everyone who is identified to have been present at the grounds where Akua Denteh was whipped.
Faced with the prospect of jail, the statement said the suspects are very likely to help identify and track all the perpetrators in the murder.
Occupy Ghana said the National Commission on Civic EEducation (NCCE) must also step up efforts at educating the population on superstitions and obnoxious customs and practices.
A programme reminding Ghanaians about the need to respect each other’s’ civil and human rights is also needed.
Furthermore, the Gender and Social Protection Ministry should enforce the closure of the so-called ‘Witch Camps’ and allow these poor women and children to re-join society with adequate protection.
It said the Ministry is obligated to offer vocational training to the occupants of the camps to aid their re-integration.
Occupy Ghana impressed upon the media to dedicate its platforms to speaking against mob justice and the branding of older women as witches and lynching them.
