Navrongo Community Expresses Outrage After 45-Year-Old Man Assaults 90-Year-Old Aunt Over Witchcraft Allegations

A 45-year-old man, identified as Apana Awasiaku, has sparked national outrage after allegedly assaulting his 90-year-old aunt, Atima Alugu, in Navrongo, Upper East Region, following accusations of witchcraft. The brutal incident, which was captured on video, occurred late last month and has ignited a heated debate regarding the protection of vulnerable elderly citizens and the adequacy of legal penalties for such crimes in Ghana.

According to reports from JoyNews and local sources, the suspect confronted Mrs. Alugu at her residence, where she lived alone. Mr. Awasiaku allegedly claimed he was acting under divine direction from God to confront her about her supposed witchcraft. Despite the victim's desperate screams for help, the assault continued until a neighbor intervened to stop the violence. The video evidence of the attack, which circulated within the community, underscored the severity of the physical abuse directed at the nonagenarian.

Although the matter was reported to the police and subsequently processed through the court system, the legal resolution has been met with significant criticism from the family and the wider community. Mr. Awasiaku was ordered to pay GH¢2,000 in compensation, a sum the family argues is woefully insufficient given the traumatic nature of the assault. Relatives have accused the local police of mishandling the case, expressing deep frustration that the perpetrator remains free while the victim's life has been permanently disrupted.

In the aftermath of the attack, Mrs. Alugu has been forced to relocate to live with her grandchildren due to ongoing safety concerns and the trauma of the event. This case highlights the persistent threat faced by elderly women in some regions of Ghana who are targeted by harmful witchcraft accusations. Human rights advocates and community leaders are calling for more stringent legal protections and a re-evaluation of how such cases are prosecuted to ensure meaningful justice for the vulnerable.