Case file · Witch trials
The Gambaga witch camp
Gambaga, in northern Ghana, has one of the country's oldest 'witch camps', said to date from the early 20th century, where women accused of witchcraft, mostly elderly, live under the protection of a local chief.
1900 CE · 10.53, -0.44 · status: account
The account
Ghana has several such camps, including Kukuo, Gnani, Kpatinga and Bonyase; around 1,000 women and many children have lived in them. Women are often accused after a death or illness in the family, sometimes after disputes over property. Some camps have been closed, and rights groups work on reintegration. The founding year is approximate.
Connections in the atlas
- A woman burned as a witch in Tema
- Ghana's parliament bans witchcraft accusations
- The killing of Akua Denteh