Ghana: Information on child slavery in Ghana
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 February 1995 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | GHA19796.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ghana: Information on child slavery in Ghana, 1 February 1995, GHA19796.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aaf968.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to an economics professor at American University in Washington, DC., "child slavery" is a concept that perceived differently in Ghana from Canada (22 Feb. 1995). In other words, Ghanaians do not perceive it as slavery. He explained that in rural and traditional Ghana, it is common for a person to loan his/her child to another person to settle a debt. If a person is financially indebted to another, and the former is not in a position to pay the debt, he or she could send his or her child to work for the creditor in exchange for money. The child will perform an amount of labour equivalent to the amount of money that his or her parent owes (ibid.). The professor explained that there have been cases of child abuse where the creditor has exploited the child beyond the expected or agreed upon period. It is only in such circumstances, that the case may be taken to court.
In another telephone interview, a Ghanaian professor of political science at the University of South Florida, Tampa, corroborated the above information and added that the other system which could be perceived by outsiders as "child slavery" involves poorer relatives sending their children to live with richer relatives in exchange for education (22 Feb. 1995). Under this system, the child moves in with the relatives and performs domestic labour. In exchange, the richer relatives pay for his or her tuition.
According to Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1993. 1994, there is another form of child slavery that is practised in Volta (eastern) region. The source states that
The tro-kosi, fetish slave, or "vestal virgin" system is a traditional practice whereby a young girl is made a virtual slave to a fetish shrine and priest for offenses committed by a member of the girl's family ... The girl becomes the virtual property of the fetish priest and may become his wife. The girls are seldom allowed to go to school and must work on the priest's farm and perform other labours for him ... The practice is clearly against Ghanaian law. It persists, however, because of traditional practices and deep-seated belief that families will suffer if the girls are not handed over (Country Reports 1993 1994, 116-7).
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1993. 1994. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.
Ghanaian professor of economics, American University, Washington, DC. 25 February 1995. Telephone interview.
Ghanaian professor of political science, University of South Florida, Tampa. 25 February 1995. Telephone interview.