Condemned without hearing: An intersectional analysis of the practice of branding, banishing, and camping of alleged witches in Northern Ghana

This study is an intersectional analysis of the phenomenon of branding some women as witches and banishing them to live in witches’ camps in Northern Ghana. Mostly, elderly women of poor socio-economic backgrounds are the target of witch-hunts. This research investigates how the intersection of gender, socio-economic conditions, and old age contribute to witchcraft accusation and banishment. Gender, old age, and socio-economic conditions are some of the key factors that influence witchcraft allegation and banishment of suspected witches. I have argued that though each of these key statuses of power influence the process of accusation, decision making in accusation cases, and the experiences of the accused. However, none of these standing alone is enough to explain why women located in these social statuses of power are the target of witchcraft accusation. These statuses of power intersect to either mutually weaken or strengthen each other. How decision is reached regarding the treatment of an accused witch and the experience of an accused witch is dependent on her positioning on these three social categories. Those positioned in better statuses experience accusation differently than those located in lower ones. This shows that the process of marginalization is context specific and the power dynamics involved in each levels of witchcraft accusation are crucial for understanding witchcraft branding and banishment.