Two women were sentenced to 12 years in prison each for the suspected witchcraft murder of 90-year-old Akua Denteh

 

Akua Dentah, 90, was accused of witchcraft and murdered in 2020 at Kafaba, near Salaga.

Hajia Serena Mohammed and Latifa Bumaye were convicted on both charges of manslaughter and sentenced on Tuesday, July 3, 2023. The sentences will be served concurrently.

 

Akua Denteh was brutally assaulted and heartlessly murdered at Kafaba, in the East Gonja Municipality of the Savannah Region, on Thursday, July 23, 2020, leading to her death the next day. Her death sparked significant outrage across the country, with calls for the murderers to be apprehended and prosecuted.

Following that, the Salaga police detained seven people, including the Kafaba community's chief, Seidu Yahaya. Hajia Serena Mohammed and Latifa Bomaye, who had fled the scene of the event, were later apprehended at their hideouts.

Initially, state prosecutors charged the two ladies with attempted murder and murder, to which they pleaded not guilty.

Recall that on July 23, 2020, at Kafaba in the East Gonja Municipality of the Savannah Region, Akua Denteh was cruelly tortured and mercilessly murdered. She passed away the next day. Her death sparked enormous outrage across the nation, with demands for the perpetrators to be apprehended and put on trial.

Seven people were subsequently detained by the Salaga police, including Seidu Yahaya, the Kafaba community's chief. Following the event, Hajia Serena Mohammed and Latifa Bomaye went into hiding. They were later apprehended at their hiding places.

The two ladies were first accused with attempted murder and murder by state authorities, to which they pled not guilty.