The Prospects And Constraints Of Reintegrating Accused Witches In Mainstream Society: The Case Of Tindang And Gambaga Witches' Camps

Abstract

Belief in witchcraft is a worldwide phenomenon. In Africa, its occurrence is almost universal. Although in some societies this belief plays a very minor role in the daily lives of the people, in most it is no exaggeration to say that one cannot gain any fundamental grasp of the attitude which people have towards one another nor can one understand many aspects of their ideas regarding good, evil and causation and their associated beliefs without understanding their belief in witchcraft. There are four established witches' camps in northern Ghana: Gambaga witches' camp in Mamprusi, Kpatinga camp located in north of Yendi, Kukuo camp in the south of Yendi and Tindang/Gnani in the east of Yendi (Waibel, 2001). However, due to time and financial constraint, the study was limited to two witches' camps, Tindang and Gambaga witches' camps. This study is a follow up to an earlier study the researcher undertook for her bachelors' degree (lddrisu, 2002).The objective of the first study was to determine whether witchcraft is a naturally occurring phenomenon or a product of social interaction and inter-relationships. In the present study, however, the researcher examines the prospects and constraints in reintegrating accused witches in the Tindang and Gambaga witches' camps into mainstream community life. To achieve this objective, the researcher surveyed not only the two camps, but also conducted interviews with members of two communities near the camps. She also conducted in-depth interview with the staff of some institutions working with the camps, traditional leaders, District Assembly officials and selected key informants. Data were gathered through the administration of questionnaire in the two witches' camps and in the two communities near the witches' camps (Nalerigu and Yendi). In-depth interviews were conducted with identified key informants, some institutions working with the witches' camps, members of the Dagbon and Mamprugu traditional councils, and officials of the Gambaga and Yendi district assemblies. Main Findings • Conditions in both Tindang and Gambaga witches camp are bad. However accused witches are willing to stay in the camps. • Some respondents are willing to be reintegrated based on the following conditions:  To be reconciled with family members and family of the accused  To be resettled in a completely different environment  To be assured of security (not to be attacked again) • Views from the two communities revealed that they are willing to accept and interact with the accused but based on the following conditions:  The accused must put a stop to their 'wicked' activities; and  The accused must be economically independent • Some methods employed in reintegration by the Presbyterian Project include dialogue and education. The study revealed that apart from the Presbyterian Project, which is involved in the reintegration of accused, the other institutions