People & Power - Spirit Child

Every year an unknown number of children - most of them disabled in some way - are murdered in northern Ghana because of the belief that they are in some way possessed by evil spirits set on bringing ill fortune to those around them. The practice is the consequence of ancient traditions and customs and is shaped by poverty and ignorance in remote and often marginalised communities. But it is still infanticide and no less horrifying than the killing of children anywhere. For years NGOs and the Ghanaian authorities have tried advocacy and education in an attempt to eradicate the practice but with only marginal success. Well into the 21st century, Ghana's so-called spirit children are still being killed because they carry the blame for the misfortunes of everyday life. Award-winning Ghanaian investigative reporter Anas Aremeyaw Anas is determined to do something to stop this senseless slaughter. In this shocking and remarkable film for People & Power he sets out to track down and identify some of those responsible and to bring them to justice.

[@PeeRocky_]

so SAD, but nice work done,

[@thedayiscoming1]

Thanks.

[@PakManPak]

Good Job

[@arsewipe22424]

As a person with a disability myself, I find this practice disgusting. It's banned in Australia.

[@kofinyarko6808]

ignorance is no excuse to the law indeed......God have mercy on the poor souls.

[@mieroth]

Very sad.

[@fakemadereal]

This plan sounded like a twilight zone episode...

[@MsColdCanada]

Very upsetting how willing those old men were to murder a lovely child with poison. I hope they really do more to stop this practice.

[@holyisthelambamen4956]

senseless so called custom

[@lindajaafar291]

24:06 Domestic violence? really? just domestic violence? It's MURDER!

[@kikivolauvent1]

makes very uncomfortable viewing... Praise to the courageous man! May he be doing more of his good work also in the future and help thus his country to become a better Ghana. was led here 'thanks' to his highly interesting and very brave man talking on TED, please also view ted.com/talks/anas_aremeyaw_anas_how_i_named_shamed_and_jailed (add dot htlm) or search for Ted Talks and add his name: Anas Aremeyaw Anas

[@AuthorityQuestion]

Such very disturbing ignorance

[@LindiweLuyaba]

The Igbo people call these “evil children” ogbanje, no?

[@omeraskin79]

I'm not even going to watch this!! It's just to upsetting. Friken animals!

[@TheDAT573]

Deadly Ignorance.

[@CanadianVikingLady]

that's some dexter shit

[@cherryboboc]

yes,,make them drink their own concoctions!

[@esiobeng8237]

and so what at least we do not eat burgers and chips and die of diabetes

[@dorcasadjei826]

Esi Obeng well would u rather support a tradition that takes away the life of thousands innocent children all in the name of an absurd superstition 🙄these are serious crimes that need to be stopped!

[@xyouOUTx]

the rabbit went into the forrest he lost his flip flops what color is it you tell me 1 2 3

[@soderegebre]

First do not generalize whole Africa even whole Ghana. Secondly, what you have to know is people in the so called ''developed world'' they do not kill their children for evil spirit but they kill them when they are drunk, stunned by drug even when life stress the parents they do not let their children live behind, so shameful. To add more I am not going to talk about Connecticut massacre or the daily shooting in the US.

[@actionyear]

forensic officers in Ghana??hahaha

[@mensilak]

Come on, you generalize this case! African are very divers !

[@kamelotfan88]

religion at its best