{{Local leaders in northern Ghana have announced the abolition of the ritual killing of babies born with physical disabilities, who were believed to have been possessed by evil spirits.}}<\/p>\n
“Spirit children” were thought to have been a sign of impending misfortune and given a poisonous drink to kill them.<\/p>\n
One campaigner said that improved healthcare and education meant such beliefs were becoming less common.<\/p>\n
Activist Raymond Ayine welcomed the ban, which covers seven towns.<\/p>\n
But he said he could not guarantee that the practice had been eradicated from the whole country.<\/p>\n
An eye-witness says the Kasena-Nankana region, where the ban has been announced, is the part of Ghana where such beliefs are most widespread.<\/p>\n
Sometimes, babies born at the same time as a family misfortune were also accused of being “spirit children” and killed.<\/p>\n
The “concoction men” who used to give the children the poisonous drink have been given new roles; they will now work with disabled children to promote their rights.<\/p>\n
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