The camp faces severe challenges, including overcrowding and inadequate living conditions
Correspondence from North East Region
The Gambaga witches camp, established many years ago, is home to 83 alleged witches and 33 school-going children.
The camp, situated in the East Mamprusi Municipality, faces severe challenges, including overcrowding and inadequate living conditions.
The inhabitants, who were forced to flee their communities due to accusations of witchcraft, are seeking better shelter and living conditions. The current thatch rooms, provided by the Chief of Gambaga, are no longer sufficient, leaving the residents to struggle with overcrowding and discomfort.
Zenabu Boabe, one of the alleged witches, expressed her gratitude to the Chief of Gambaga for providing shelter but emphasized the need for modern structures. “The thatch rooms are not spacious enough to accommodate me and my three grandchildren,” she said.
Rev. Madam Lariba, project coordinator at the camp, highlighted the challenges faced by the inhabitants during the rainy season.
“We have so many challenges and so we would wish that philanthropists out there, whoever feels and can support us, would come forward. The Chief has been supporting the project to roof their thatch rooms, and so every year, they buy grass. As we all know, the Chief has passed, and it is not easy catering for 83 thatch rooms and 22 compounds, so we appeal for your support this year to roof their thatch rooms for us because getting to the rainy season is always a problem,” she said.
“We urgently need support to reconstruct the camp and provide better living conditions for these vulnerable women and children,” she appealed.
Chief Kpana-raana, one of the custodians of the camp, lamented the struggles of the women and children, calling on philanthropists and benevolent organizations to support the cause.
“If we could get assistance and support from other benevolent organizations to come and help us reconstruct their structures to modern ones, we would not need to provide thatch for the buildings annually. Modernized structures would ensure these women have proper shelter.”
Chief Kpana-raana stressed, “In fact, sorry to say, we are not encouraging witchcraft here, but we want them to have comfortable accommodation so that they will feel at home.”
The Gambaga witches camp is a testament to the plight of alleged witches in Ghana, who are often forced to flee their communities due to accusations and stigma. The camp’s inhabitants are in dire need of support to improve their living conditions and rebuild their lives.
