Head of the History Department at the University of Cape Coast, Professor De-Valera Botchway has called on government to do everything possible to eradicate modern slavery in Ghana.
According to him, despite the fact that the Trans-Atlantic slave trade has been abolished, slavery is still prevalent today in different forms and this is having a devastating impact on Ghana and Africa as a whole.
Speaking to ATL FM NEWS on the commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance of Victims of Slavery and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade on the theme “Stories of Courage: Resistance to slavery and unity against racism”, he notes that slavery continues in the 21st Century.
“People are being traded in Africa-Ghana, people are forced to do things against their will…we have women who are promised that maybe we will send you to an Arab country or Europe or any place for you to go and work and then they turn them into sex slaves, they take their passports, they make them do things they would not do willingly,” he intimated.
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Slave trade began in Africa around 1619 and ended in 1807, resulting in depopulation, continual conflicts, and violence, as well as a negative impact on Africa’s economy in terms of agricultural development, among other things.
To this end, he said government must pay attention to the plights of the masses and investigate and persecute people who are involved in such illegal and evil activities.
“Again, there should be education for people to understand that there are still some evil people out there who are enslaving people to make money in the name of capitalism. We also need to preach love, unity and respect,” he stated.
Professor Botchwayalsostressed the need to deal with racism because it serves as a fuel for some forms of slavery prevalent in the world today.
Source: Emmanuella Ama Gyamfi/ATLFMNEWS
