Lynching of 90-year-old woman: Police arrest Kafaba chief, 13 others on the run

The Chief of Kafaba in the East Gonja municipality in the Savannah Region, Kafabawura Seidu Yahaya, has been arrested by the Regional Police Command in connection with the lynching of a 90-year-old woman who was accused of being a witch.

The police have also mounted an intensive search for 13 others who are on the run.

According to the Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr Enoch Adutwum Bediako, the statement of the Kafabawura had been taken and was in custody to be arraigned today.

He said the chief would be charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

Barbaric

The arrest of the chief follows the sending of homicide experts from the Police Headquarters in Accra to the Savannah Region on the orders of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr James Oppong-Buanuh, to arrest the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo last Monday condemned the lynching of Madam Akua Denteh, the 90-year-old woman who was accused of being a witch, describing it as barbaric and unfortunate.

The President called on the police to look for the perpetrators and bring them to book, adding that never again should such a dastardly act happen in the country.

The President was speaking at the inauguration of a GH¢5.66 million Small Towns Water Supply System at Yapei in the Central Gonja District as part of his three-day tour of the northern part of the country.

Foundation

The Savannah Regional Minister, Mr Salifu Adam Braimah, announced that the Regional Coordinating Council (SRCC) had set up a foundation in memory of the late Madam Denteh.

"This is to say clearly to the world that never again should such a thing happen in the history of the newly created Savannah Region," he stated.

Mr Braimah said the police were on the heels of the perpetrators of the dastardly crime and that tremendous progress had been made towards arresting those involved.

"It is comforting that this unfortunate situation has attracted the attention of the First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, who has already sent a delegation to Kafaba to comfort the family of the late Madam Denteh,” he said.

President Akufo-Addo pledged his support to the foundation.

Context

Madam Denteh was pounded mercilessly by her attackers at Kafaba in the East Gonja Municipality of the Savannah Region on Thursday, July 23, 2020 on the accusation that she was a witch, leading to her death.

Amnesty International

In a related development, Amnesty International (AI) has visited Kafaba to meet with the family of the late Madam Denteh.

AI has taken interest in the case and has sought permission from the family of the deceased to work towards achieving justice for her.