Witchcraft on the Gold Coast

Abstract

THE Christian Council of the Gold Coast, a body consisting of representatives of all denominations, of which the Anglican Bishop of Accra is chairman, has taken the unusual course—not, however, without precedent in spiritistic circles—of issuing a challenge to witchcraft. The Council has published a notice in the local press that it is prepared to pay the sum of £10 to any person who, within the term of six months from date, will either ‘eat’ a papaw, or some other fruit selected by the Committee, at a distance of five yards, without coming into physical contact with it; or extract from a sealed box, without breaking the seal, an article deposited in it by the Committee; or transform himself into any beast, bird, or creeping thing. All these operations are among the powers attributed to the local witches. The Council, in making this challenge, is careful to point out that while many innocent persons are put in great terror by their fear of witchcraft, the harm from it is due not to the powers of witchcraft, but to their fear. Even with this proviso, however, the Council would appear to have been unsuccessful in its attempt to avoid criticism. Objection has been taken to its action on the ground that it constitutes ‘witch-finding’, and as such is contrary to a local ordinance.