Portraits of Strength: Resilience Of Women Exiled As ‘Witches’

Portraits of Strength: Resilience Of Women Exiled As ‘Witches’

“There are currently hundreds of women alleged to be ‘witches’ living in five camps across northern Ghana facing a lack of human rights and discrimination.”

Photos and text by Louise Wateridge



The Kukuo Witch Camp located in the Namumba South District of Northern Ghana is one of the only witch camps in the world. There are currently hundreds of women alleged to be ‘witches’ facing a lack of human rights, discrimination and fierce social stigmatism having been exiled from their communities.

The remaining Witch Camps in Ghana are vastly separated from other communities and the majority of the accusations start from a death in the family or a dream somebody has. Almost every case is traced back to inheritance issues or a woman becoming a burden due to age or being widowed. The only trial the women face is mob justice. Once in the camps, they will work on local maize or henna farms. Many of the women wish to improve their access to water, some have lived in the camps as long as 30 years and despite being over 80 years old walk hours daily to carry water pumped from a community well.




Shani Abdul Kasiru, the head of policy and program for NGO Songtaba, expressed his surprise at the new accusations in urban areas stating the NGO’s had perhaps “overlooked that urban areas were enlightened”.




Photos and text by Louise Wateridge