Ghanaians ban ‘spirit child’ killing

{{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.}}

“Spirit children” were thought to have been a sign of impending misfortune and given a poisonous drink to kill them.

One campaigner said that improved healthcare and education meant such beliefs were becoming less common.

Activist Raymond Ayine welcomed the ban, which covers seven towns.

But he said he could not guarantee that the practice had been eradicated from the whole country.

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.

Sometimes, babies born at the same time as a family misfortune were also accused of being “spirit children” and killed.

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.

{wirestory}