A refuge for women accused of being witches in the African nation of Ghana has seen a noticeable rise in men also coming to camp after falling under suspicion of practicing black magic in their community.
The camp in question boasts an astounding 1,028 people who have been banished from their villages due to being blamed for unexplained sicknesses and death.
Among those reluctant residents are 313 women, 105 men, and a whopping 610 children who are presumably the offspring of the alleged sorcerers.
According to the chief priest of the camp, the swelling male population is presenting problems when it comes to maintaining the community.
"We have to let them stay here and we give them pieces of land to farm in order to cater for themselves and their families," he explained to Ghana Web.
Although the camp has evolved into a rudimentary community of its own as the population has grown, life at the refuge is a harsh existence.
Access to drinking water and basic institutions such as schools and medical facilities are unavailable to residents of the camp which does not even have a road leading to the property.
Nonetheless, for those who have been forced to live at the camp, it is a far better place to stay than their old villages where they are likely to be harassed for their purported practicing of witchcraft.
A recent visit to the camp by medical professionals to check on the health of the residents revealed the surprising rise in male newcomers to the refuge.
The news comes on the heels of a recent study which found that widespread belief in witchcraft appears to be a serious hindrance to the economies of African nations.
Whether the rise in wizards indicates that the accusers are running out of suspects blame for their woes or a more profound societal shift remains to be seen.
Source: Ghana Web