Witchcraft is deeply rooted in many African countries and communities in Sub-Saharan Africa.[1] It has been specifically relevant to Ghana's culture, beliefs, and lifestyle.[2] It continues to shape lives daily and with that it has promoted tradition, fear, violence, and spiritual beliefs. The perceptions on witchcraft change from region to region within Ghana, as well as in other countries in Africa.[3] The commonality is that it is not something to take lightly, and the word spreads fast if there are rumors' surrounding civilians practicing it. The actions taken by local citizens and the government towards witchcraft and violence related to it have also varied within regions in Ghana. Traditional African religions have depicted the universe as a multitude of spirits that are able to be used for good or evil through religion.[4]
Witchcraft beliefs are deeply rooted in Ghanaian culture and can be traced back to hundreds of years before colonial powers in the country were even present. Today, it continues to influence actions and lifestyles through accusations of witchcraft. Accusations against women and violence are common within the topic of witchcraft, many of them ending in murder and public killings. Witchcraft is observed through numerous lenses, varying from local Ghana to how the Western world views the subject and researches it from the action itself to its political undertones and actions surrounding the topic.[citation needed]