Despite Ghana's legal protections for children, accusations of witchcraft against young people persist, often leading to physical abuse and social exclusion. The practice, deeply rooted in cultural and spiritual beliefs, continues to threaten the well-being of vulnerable children across the country.
A new study, including researchers from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi reveals the contemporary social factors driving these accusations and identifies opportunities for intervention.
The research, titled "Breaking the Cycle: Investigating the Social Drivers of Child Witchcraft Accusations and Ritual Abuse in Contemporary Ghana," was published in the Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work: Social Thought.
The researchers interviewed 20 young people aged 18 to 23 in Kumasi, using narrative vignettes based on real-life cases to explore factors that either enforce or prevent ritual abuse practices.
Some of the findings that emerged from the study reveal that Islamic leaders known as Mallams and traditional healers play significant roles in substantiating child witchcraft accusations. These figures are trusted within communities to identify supposed witches and provide directives on how accused children should be treated. In some cases, traditional healers prescribe physical abuse as a means of driving out the "witchcraft spirit," creating a cycle of violence that is culturally sanctioned and difficult to challenge.
The study also found that local Ghanaian movies significantly influence community perceptions. Films depicting witchcraft themes reinforce harmful stereotypes by portraying children with certain physical features or behaviours as witches, leading to real-life accusations.
"When we watch these witchcraft movies, it gives us ideas about who a child witch is, how they look like and operate," one participant explained.
However, the research identified protective factors contributing to the decline of ritual abuse. Such as the enforcement of local bylaws and education on legal protections for children have helped reduce the practice.
Participants noted that increased awareness of human rights frameworks empowers young people to challenge baseless accusations. "These days we are taught in school that nobody can beat you without a reason. It is against my human rights," one young person said.
According to the researchers, the findings highlight the need for collaborative intervention involving social workers, religious institutions, and traditional leaders.
The researchers recommend training programs to educate religious and traditional leaders on child protection laws and call for media content guidelines to prevent harmful stereotypes in local films.
The researchers also emphasize the urgent need for social work involvement in handling witchcraft accusations, arguing that professional intervention could help protect vulnerable children while respecting cultural contexts.
Source: Abdullah, A., Mensah, F., Benyin, F. A. S., Cudjoe, E., Baffour, F. K., Manful, E., & Asamoah, E. (2025). Breaking the cycle: investigating the Social drivers of child witchcraft accusations and ritual abuse in contemporary Ghana. Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work: Social Thought, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/15426432.2025.255962