A Hohoe Magistrate Court has sentenced a 31-year-old painter to a fine of GH¢1,200 for insulting his neighbour by calling her a witch and claiming she had “bitter flesh.”
Fia Foli Philip, the convict, has also been ordered by the court to pay GH¢5,000 as compensation to the complainant and was warned never to refer to her as a witch again.
Chief Inspector Charles Aziati, who prosecuted the case, urged the court—presided over by Joseph Y. Kunsong—to hand down a stern punishment to serve as a deterrent to others who brand elderly women in society as witches.
He stated that such behaviour was unacceptable and deviated from Ghanaian cultural values.
The incident occurred on December 28, 2021, when the convict stood opposite the complainant’s house and hurled insults at her, calling her a witch and accusing her of having a hand in the death of a man identified as Musa.
Fia also claimed the complainant’s flesh was “bitter” and added, “Go and tell whoever sent you to me that you cannot kill me.”
At the time of the incident, the complainant was at home with her physically challenged daughter, who later served as a witness in the case.
She subsequently reported the matter to the police at Gbi-Bla, leading to the arrest and prosecution of Fia Foli Philip.
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