A bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of Bomahi-Naa Abubakari, the sub-chief of Nyankpala who allegedly threatened the life of a 45-year-old woman who had been accused of witchcraft.
The warrant was issued on June 26 by the Tamale Circuit Court �1� after BomahiNaa Abubakari refused to appear in court following a summon served on him on June 19 to appear before the court on June 22.
Abdulai Rahinatu and one Yakubu are standing trial over threats on the life of the alleged witch, who, according to family sources, is very insecure even after she was banished from the community.
The court therefore ordered for the arrest of the chief. He is to be brought before the judge on July 22 when the court reconvenes for hearing on the matter.
Yakubu, the first accused, answered the summons on the said date and was granted bail in the sum of GH�1,500.
Lance Corporal Gregory, police investigator of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), told the court that both the first and second accused on May 29 allegedly asked Abdulai Rahinatu to find a cure for a supposedly bewitched woman or face death.
Lance Corporal Gregory said the police invited the chief of Nyankpala, the BomahiNaa, and Yakubu for their statements, but they turned the invitations down.
The investigator said the police on June 19 therefore sought a court summon for Yakubu and Bomahi-Naa, but only Yakubu honoured the summons and came to court.
The court therefore issued the bench warrant for Bomahi-Naa to appear in court on July 22.
Meanwhile, National Co-ordinator of the Anti-Witchcraft Campaign Coalition-Ghana (AWACC), Mr Ken Addae told The Finder that the coalition is seriously pursuing the human right aspect of the matter to ensure that the accused and the banished woman, including her family, are reintegrated back into their community.
Mr Ken Addae said AWACC has subsequently petitioned the overlord of Dagbon, Kampapuya-Naa Abdulai, to intervene in the matter.
He also said the coalition is liaising with diplomatic missions and other human rightsgroups to help address the issue and protect the rights of the victim and her family.
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