Banished and Forgotten: A Story of Women Exiled Over Witchcraft

In northern Ghana, hundreds of women live in exile—cast out from their communities, accused of witchcraft, and condemned to so-called “witch camps.”

These settlements, scattered across the region, are both places of refuge and sites of immense isolation. Many women have lived there for decades, stripped of their rights, their land, and their dignity. Accusations often follow the death of a loved one, disputes over property, or unexplained illness—revealing how deeply gender, poverty, and belief systems intersect.

In recent years, activists, traditional leaders, and survivors have begun challenging the injustice and calling for the reintegration of these women. At the same time, the Ghanaian government has promised to close the camps and eradicate harmful practices—but many fear that without real societal change, these women will face renewed danger if they return.

In this project, journalist Claire Thomas asks: What does justice look like for women branded as witches? Who decides who belongs— and who is cast out? And what does healing mean when the community is both the wound and the cure?