Residents of Havedzi in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region have been thrown into a state of fear and panic after a woman, believed to be in her late 30s, suspected to be a witch, was apprehended in a room around midnight.
The incident allegedly occurred while some residents were asleep, and suddenly, sensed someone’s presence in the room, despite all doors and windows being locked.
Mr Raphael Normegbor, the Assembly member of the area reported to the Ghana News Agency that the suspected witch was arrested and brought before the community elders, but she refused to provide her name, location, or any information that could lead to her families.
“The only thing she did was to claim she is part of a group passing-by and dropped into the room, this has sparked curiosity and concern among residents. Many express fear about the incident,” he said.
Mr Normegbor explained that elders of the community have proposed letting the suspected witch to go after they cited previous incidents of suspected witches being arrested in the area.
He said many expressed fear and panic with the call for stricter security and spiritual measures to prevent such occurrences in the future to safeguard the residents in the communities and those beyond.
“The community is on edge, they are seeking ways to address the situation and to ensure their safety though nobody was harmed, this is a spiritual matter, and it demanded to be treated as such.”
Mr Normegbor said that the incident had raised questions about the presence and activities of suspected witches in Havedzi and called for intervention of pastors and other spiritual personnel to come in and resolve the issues.
The assemblyman has promised to work with community leaders to address the concerns of the residents, while local authorities are also considering ways to enhance security and protect residents.
Some residents GNA interacted with believed that the woman’s actions were suspicious and warrant further investigation by the elders and leaders of the community.
However, others were skeptical about the allegations and urged caution and fairness in handling such situations and described the incident as a way of highlighting the ongoing fears and superstitions surrounding witchcraft in some communities.
The case has sparked intense discussions in Havedzi about safety, spirituality, and community protection with residents demanding answers to their concerns.
Meanwhile, upon consultations, confrontations and guidance from the elders, the suspect was allowed to go with the warning that she must not on any circumstances return to the area to harm anybody or cause any fear among residents.
