JHS girl rescued after spending four years in hencoop
A JHS girl was on Wednesday dawn rescued after spending four years in a hencoop-like structure to be exorcised of 'witchcraft'.
According to Joy FM’s Western Region correspondent, Kwaku Owusu Peprah, the structure in which the girl, an asthmatic patient, was being kept had no window, making it poorly ventilated.
The rescue effort was done by a combined team of police and Social Welfare officials at Apowa, a community near Takoradi.
He said the rescue exercise was done after weeks of monitoring the girl’s movements at the Nazareth Prayer Center.
According to him, the girl has been living in the wooden structure separated from the main house at the prayer camp because the prophetess-head of the camp claims the girl will infect the household with her witchcraft if allowed to mingle with other children and siblings of hers.
In his narrative, Owusu Peprah told sit-in-host of Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Bernard Nasara Saibu that although the team managed to rescue the 16 year old girl, they were initially faced with some resistance from the leadership of the church.
The Western Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare says the girl will be given medical attention, after which she will be reunited with her family. He said the girl would also be given the needed support - a special teacher - to prepare her for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) slated for early this year.
Mr. Tweneboa-Kodua hinted that the managers of the prayer camp may face prosecution if found to have acted contrary to provisions in the Children’s Act. He said the Act frowns on discrimination and other dehumanizing acts.
According to Owusu-Peprah, the girl, whose participation in class is said not to be that encouraging is aspires to become a journalist.
Her mother, who cannot afford to rent a room due to her financial situation and is currently taking shelter in one of the rooms at the prayer camp, has described her daughter as humble, respectful and helpful who is always on hand to assist with house chores. However, the mother is united with the prophetess in her conviction that her daughter is a witch.
The prophetess, who is herself bedridden and receiving treatment at a hospital for an unnamed sickness, told Owusu Peprah that she was ready to improve the condition of the girl.
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