‘Our elders deserve love and protection’ – NDC running mate condemns killing of 90-year-old woman

The National Democratic Congress running mate, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has condemned the lynching of a 90-year-old-woman believed to be a witch. 

“My attention has been drawn to the most despicable act of lynching of a 90-year-old-woman at Kafaba in the East Gonja Municipality of the Savanna Region.

“I condemn in the strongest terms this barbaric act which has left me, like many I can imagine, deeply sad, indeed.

The incident happened on Thursday at Kafaba in the East Gonja Municipality of the Savanna Region.

Condemning the action, in a Facebook post, she said she is saddened by the unspeakable cruelty meted out to the old woman.

“The elderly in our society rather deserve our love and protection, not this level of unspeakable cruelty. Old age cannot be synonymous to witchcraft.

“It is time to build a fair, just and gender-sensitive society that respects and values everyone, no matter their age,” the post read.

Professor Opoku-Agyemang called on the security agencies to investigate and ensure the culprits are brought to book.

She also expressed her heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

According to reports, the 90-year-old woman was dragged 800 meters away from her home only to be beaten to death by her attackers in broad day-light.

She was hit, kicked and whipped by two women as the large crowd cheered them on.

The feeble woman was seen in the viral video pleading with her attackers to spare her life, as she denied the accusations of being a witch.

But her pleas were flatly ignored by her abusers, which led to her death.

The old woman, whose body has since been deposited at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) mortuary, has been identified as Mariama Akua Denteh.

The Savannah Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Enoch Adutwum Bediako, said police officers had been detailed to the area to effect the arrest of the suspects, who subjected the victim to severe beatings, leading to her death.