The Garu District Police Command has arraigned eight individuals before a court in Bolgatanga following the brutal killing of two elderly women at Sumaduri-Tempane in the Upper East Region.

The victims, identified as Mariama Jato, 58, and Nachuagutugu Dunwaag, 75, were allegedly beaten to death by members of their own family after being accused of witchcraft.

According to police investigations, the incident occurred on January 18, 2026, at about 12:30 p.m., when the Garu District Police Command, which has oversight responsibility over the Tampane District, received a distress call reporting that two elderly women had been violently assaulted by their children and close relatives.

The suspects—seven family members described in court as A1 to A7, all farmers residing in Sumaduri-Tempane—were allegedly angered by what they described as recurring misfortunes within the family, which they attributed to the women.

In an attempt to seek spiritual confirmation, the family reportedly consulted A8, a pastor of the Voice of Healing Assembly Church in the community.

Police say the pastor allegedly confirmed the witchcraft accusations during the spiritual consultation.

Following the alleged confirmation, the suspects are said to have mobilised, armed with sticks and belts, and subjected the two elderly women to severe beatings, resulting in their deaths.

Police further revealed that the accused persons were allegedly making arrangements to secretly bury the bodies when information about the incident reached the police.

Officers promptly proceeded to the scene, retrieved and documented the bodies, and transported them to the Garu Presbyterian Hospital for preservation and autopsy.

All eight suspects have since been arrested and arraigned before the court.

They have been charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and abetment of murder, contrary to Section 46 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

The Garu District Police Command says investigations are ongoing as the case progresses through the judicial process.

The incident has once again highlighted concerns over witchcraft accusations and mob justice in parts of the Upper East Region, where elderly women remain particularly vulnerable to violence driven by superstition and fear.

Commenting on the incident, Freda Yaya Laar-Mong, the First North East Regional Representative of Ghana’s Most Beautiful, called for justice for the victims.

“This barbaric practice of accusing elderly women of witchcraft and beating them to death must stop,” she said, expressing confidence that the police would ensure the case is pursued to its logical conclusion.