Free Custom «Modern Slavery in Ghana» Essay Paper

Slavery was abolished long time ago in all countries of the world. However, it has managed to camouflage itself over time, taking on many different forms, a trait that has ensured that it persists many years after its ‘official’ prohibition (BBC, par.1). Slavery in the modern world is rife, no less in Africa and especially in Ghana.

Ghana is believed to be a major player in human trafficking, as a source, transit and a destination place for the traffickers. For many years, children and women have been trafficked in the country so as to work as forced laborers as well as forced prostitution. The disturbing fact is that human trafficking within Ghana is rifer than transnational trafficking with a large portion of the trafficked being children, boys and girls included. The main industries where this vice is perpetrated are the agricultural and fishing industries where the children are forced to work under harsh conditions with very little or no pay at all. Some of these children are forced into street hawking, begging (as porters) or kente weaving. It is estimated that there are more than 30000 of them working as porters in the country’s capital Accra. This simply means that there should be many of them all over the country (Patt, par.1).

 

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The working conditions that the children are subjected to are dire. For instance, numerous boys die annually as a result of the hazardous working conditions while fishing in Lake Volta. Additionally, the girls are forced into domestic servitude and prostitution. Since they have no control over their terms, they are subject to exploitation. Those forced into prostitution are at a high risk of being infected with STD’s and HIV/AIDS. In the same breath, although to a lesser extent, some boys have been trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation. This has led to illegal sex tourism (Patt, par.1).

Modern slavery, just like the classic slavery, has to be dealt with firmly. This can only happen if everyone is involved in eliminating the vice. Passing necessary laws is not efficient; they have to be followed to the letter. The government of Ghana has its work cut out; it simply has to eliminate all forms of slavery so that all citizens enjoy their freedom. All the perpetrators have to be brought to book. Until then, slavery will persist in the society.