August 18, 2025 In Case Stories By WACSI
Local Giving Restores Dignity to Women Accused of Witchcraft in Ghana
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In just a few months, a women-led civil society group in northern Ghana mobilised over GHC 100,000 (about USD 10,000) in cash and in-kind contributions to restore dignity to elderly women cast out of their communities over witchcraft accusations.
Fueled by contributions from local communities, food vendors, small business owners, faith-based organisations, and Ghanaians in the diaspora, this support is rebuilding lives, ensuring education for their children and grandchildren, and igniting a wider community movement for dignity and justice in the country.
In Ghana, particularly in the Northern, North East, Upper East, Upper West, and Savannah Regions, elderly women still face the devastating consequences of wrongful witchcraft accusations. Many, some in their sixties and seventies, are banished from their homes and forced into settlements such as Gambaga, Kukuo, Gnani, Kpatinga, Nabuli, and Bonyase. These places, often referred to as alleged witch camps, were initially created as sanctuaries. Over time, they have become enclaves of neglect where women live with little access to clean water, healthcare, adequate food, or social support.
Some of the structures at one of the alleged witch camps in the Upper East Region of Ghana.
The injustice is not abstract. It claimed national attention in 2020 when Madam Akua Denteh, a 90-year-old woman from the Savannah Region, was lynched after being accused of witchcraft. Her brutal death sparked outrage across Ghana and became a rallying point for advocates. In 2023, Ghana’s Parliament passed the Criminal Offences Amendment Act, popularly called the Anti Witchcraft Accusation Bill, which criminalises the act of accusing someone of witchcraft. This law also aims to support the reintegration of victims into their communities. Although presidential assent remains pending, the momentum for change is strong.
It is in this critical context that local giving has emerged as a powerful force for dignity and justice.
Community Powered by Generosity
In 2023, Songtaba, a women-led civil society organisation with a long track record of advocating for the rights of marginalised women and girls, launched the ‘Faako’ Social Fund. Supported under the Giving for Change initiative by the West Africa Civil Society Institute and STAR-Ghana Foundation, ‘Faako’, meaning “relief” in the local language, was designed to prove that Ghanaians themselves can provide solutions to urgent social issues through philanthropy.
The launch of ’Faako’ Social Fund in 2023 by Songtaba in Tamale, Northern Region of Ghana. Photo credit: STAR-Ghana Foundation
The response from the public was immediate and inspiring. Within months of its launch, the fund mobilised over $2000 (over GHC 20,000) entirely from local contributions. These resources were channelled directly into education support for over 20 underprivileged students, many of whom are children or grandchildren of the women in the camps. Covering school fees, uniforms, textbooks, and basic supplies ensured that these young people could remain in school and gain the knowledge and confidence to speak out against harmful traditional practices.
Shani Abdul Kasiru, Songtaba’s Head, Programmes and Policy, explained, “Since implementation of the project, we have supported women living in exclusion with food, clothing, and other essentials. Previously, most felt condemned to die without any dignity. Now they are hopeful about reintegration into their families and communities.”
The fund has since grown to mobilise more than 100,000 Ghana cedis in combined cash and in-kind contributions from individuals, local businesses, faith-based groups, and members of the Ghanaian diaspora. These contributions have provided tangible and symbolic relief.
One of the most significant milestones was a Mother’s Day celebration in 2023. With in-kind support valued at over $10,000 (over GHC 100,000), Songtaba was able to feed and clothe 133 women from the camps.
“It was truly a fulfilling moment for us to apply the local fundraising tools and strategies we developed through our participation in the Giving for Change programme to create such a beautiful experience for them,” said Kasiru.
Songtaba presenting hundreds of cloths to women living in the alleged ’witch’ camps during the Mother’s Day merry and celebration. These clothes were mobilised solely through local giving. Photo credit: Songtaba
For many, it was the first time in years they were celebrated, not shunned. The event, filled with music, shared meals, and gifts, restored a sense of belonging. Community members, volunteers, and small business owners worked together to make the day a success, demonstrating the unifying power of generosity.
Afiba [not her real name], one of the women accused of witchcraft, could not hide her joy. “This moment has given me hope that all is not lost and that there are still good people who care about us,” she said.
One of the women beaming with smiles during the Mother’s Day event. Photo credit: Songtaba
Beyond celebrations, the fund has also facilitated the reintegration of some women into their communities through careful mediation and dialogue with family members and local leaders. Education support for young people from these areas is beginning to create a new generation of advocates who can challenge harmful practices with informed voices.
As one young, impacted person put it, “I now understand that accusations of witchcraft are born out of fear and ignorance. Education has given me the courage to speak up for my grandmother.”
Generosity That Fuels Social Change
The ‘Faako’ Social Fund is not just about meeting immediate needs. It is a community-led vehicle for systemic change. By drawing resources from within Ghana, it challenges the assumption that rural communities must depend solely on foreign donors for transformative action.
One of the women beautifully seated at the event with a glimpse of hope. Photo credit: Songtaba
Women supported by the fund are now telling their own stories publicly, advocating for the full implementation of the Anti Witchcraft Accusation Act, and participating in sensitisation programmes. Songtaba is institutionalising this approach to local giving by hosting public accountability sessions and creating community education structures that ensure transparency and sustained engagement.
This story of the ‘Faako’ Social Fund captures the very essence of African community philanthropy. It shows that when communities mobilise their own resources, they create not only financial support but also the solidarity needed to dismantle discrimination. In doing so, they restore dignity, protect rights, and inspire hope for generations to come.
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