The Prospects And Constraints Of Reintegrating Accused Witches In Mainstream Society: The Case Of Tindang And Gambaga Witches' Camps
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Date
2008-12
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Publisher
University of Ghana
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
Description
MPhil in Sociology
Keywords
Accused Witches, Tindang, Gambaga, Witches' Camps