Accra, Nov. 26, GNA - The Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs has condemned the barbaric act which led to the death of a 72-year-old woman in Tema.

It called on the Tema Regional Police to undertake a thorough investigation into the incident and ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crime face the full rigours of the law.

In a statement issued in Accra and by Mrs Juliana Azumah- Mensah, Sector Minister said: "The Ministry has learnt with great shock the death of 72-year-old Ama Hemmah in Tema Site 15, after being set on fire by a group of persons upon accusations of being a witch."

It said the deceased was reported to have been found in the room of one Emelia Opoku at a time when Emelia had sent her children to school.

The statement said the alarm was raised, inciting a group of

persons in the neighbourhood who allegedly tortured and extracted

confessions of witchcraft from the deceased. "The mob then allegedly drenched the poor old lady in

kerosene and set her ablaze. The victim died within 24 hours of

arrival at the hospital."