Negative Effects Of Modern Day Slavery On The Human Race

NEWS COMMENTARY ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE REMEMBRANCE OF THE SLAVE TRADE AND ITS ABOLITION – AN EMERGENCY CALL TO END MODERN-DAY SLAVERY

Over six centuries ago, slavery and human trafficking caused despair and little or no regard for human dignity in the world. More than one hundred and fifty years after the abomination has been condemned to the ruins of history, there are numerous indications that slavery is not yet a thing of the past, but rather a dark secret in present day society and its name face-lifted to modern-day slavery. Today is International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. The day was instituted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO on the 23rd of August 1998.  Each year, the United Nations invites people all over the world, including educators, students and artists to organize events that centre on the theme of informing people about the historical events associated with the slave trade, the consequences and to promote tolerance and human rights.

It is astonishing that after over 150 years of Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, slavery is still alive and well in the world. The evolution of slavery has come to be in many disguises; sex trafficking, child trafficking, forced labour, debt bondage, domestic servitude and unlawful recruitment and use of child soldiers.  The number of slaves in the world today is estimated to be around 21 million to 70 million. In 2016, the Global Slave Index documented 45.8 million enslaved people in 167 countries with one in four victims being children. It is worth noting that 58 percent of them are living in India, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh and Uzbekistan. It has been revealed that the figures as quoted by the various research groups may be incorrect because many are hidden from the public and authorities. Modern-day slavery is therefore said to be serious in countries which lack education, economic freedom, the rule of law and poor societal structure. Total annual revenues of traffickers were estimated to range from five to nine billion US Dollars in 2004 which clearly attests to the fact that the barbaric act is profitable after all. Once there are practically slaves almost everywhere in the world including the World’s super powers, there sure must be some in Ghana as well.

Ghana has become a source, transit, and destination country for children and women trafficked in West Africa for the purposes of forced labour and commercial sex exploitation. Trafficking in the country is reported to be prevalent than transnational trafficking and the majority of victims are children. Children are trafficked in and out of the country for forced labour in the areas of agriculture, mining, fishing, street hawking, forced begging and sex tourism.  From a focal point, it is realised that, human trafficking in Ghana is divided in various geographical zones. Girls and women are trafficked to cities like Accra and Kumasi for forced sex slavery. Cocoa and other cash crop growing communities, fishing and mining communities traffic persons for forced labour.

Today being International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition offers us as a nation an opportunity to reflect on the effects slavery has on the human race. Let us use this day to reflect on our pledge embedded in a marble plaque placed on Fortes and Castles such as that at Cape Coast with the words; “In Everlasting Memory of the anguish of our ancestors. May those who die rest in peace. May those who return find their routes. May humanity never again perpetuate such injustices against humanity. We, the living vow to uphold this”. It is the duty of every citizen to help eliminate this archaic and inhumane practice that has characterized our modern society in such despicable forms. Our children are the future of this nation. To usher them into the realms of slavery at the detriment of their alienable rights to freedom, education and opportunity is a betrayal of our nation’s founding principles. Let us therefore seize the opportunity today presents to commit to ending human-trafficking in Ghana forever, and secure the Freedom and Justice for all. Let’s say no to modern day slavery.

BY: KPEDATOR ELORM, A TEACHER.