Court fines man GH¢6,200 for calling neighbour ‘witch’ in Hohoe

A 31-year-old painter named Fia Foli Philip has been fined GH¢1,200 by the Hohoe Magistrate Court for verbally abusing his neighbour, labelling her a witch and saying she had ‘bitter flesh’.

In addition to the fine, the court, overseen by Joseph Y. Kunsong, mandated Fia to pay GH¢5,000 in compensation to the victim and cautioned him against making such allegations in the future.

The incident took place on December 28, 2021, when Fia stood outside the woman’s home, accusing her of witchcraft and being responsible for someone’s death, with the complainant’s daughter, who has a disability, as a witness.

The woman subsequently reported the incident to the police in Gbi-Bla, resulting in Fia’s arrest and prosecution.

Chief Inspector Charles Aziati, who prosecuted the case, emphasized the need for a severe penalty, stating that accusing elderly women of witchcraft is a significant social concern that conflicts with cultural values.