He said that ever since he brought witch doctors to identify and eradicate the witches, there has been a drastic reduction of unnecessary deaths resulting from malaria and other incidents.

The government of President Yahya Jammeh, who seized power in a 1994 coup, proclaim that there is a government policy to witch hunt suspect.  Police officers, soldiers and some of the president's personal security guards accompanied the "witch doctors" in the series of round-ups in March this year, paramilitary police armed with guns and shovels surrounded the village of Sintet before dawn.

Many victims were then forced to confess to being a witch. In some cases, they are also severely beaten, almost to the point of death. The mysterious liquid which they were forced to drink prompted serious kidney problems in many of those rounded up, many people died after being subjected to the ordeal and some still suffering from serious illnesses.

President Jammeh has said that he believed witchcraft was behind his aunt's death earlier this year, and has been inviting "witch doctors" from nearby Guinea to combat witches.
On March 8, authorities arrested Halifa Sallah, who has written about the "witch doctors" for the main opposition newspaper, Foroyya. The former presidential candidate has since been charged with sedition and spying.

 Death of Ghanaians

Commenting on the Ghanaian death the Gambia leader has refuted allegations that his government is responsible for the death 44 Ghanaian and natives of other West African countries who were found dead in 2005 at the Tanji forest in Banjul.

Speaking to supporter in Serekunda west mini-stadium President Jammeh said since the beginning of the row on the alleged killings of innocent Ghanaian he knew The Gambia will be free from the allegations.

Jammeh said Ghanaians are the only country that has their own community in the Gambia called Ghana Town. He added that he was not convinced to take up the matter to ECOWAS level, but to the United Nations in order to clear the country’s image on the alleged killing of Ghanaian nationals.