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A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Action Aid Ghana, has organised a two-day sensitization programme aimed at combatting modern-day slavery in Ghana.
The two-day training was targeted at deepening the understanding of various stakeholders on issues regarding modern-day slavery which is on the rise in Ghana and globally, with about 23% of victims in Africa.
Modern slavery has been defined as a crime in which a domestic worker is not free to leave his or her employment and is abused and underpaid, if paid at all.
According to the Regional Manager for ActionAid Ghana in charge of Greater Accra, Oti and the Volta Regions, Madam She-Vera Anzagira, organizations whose mandate borders on social protection must work together to minimize the impact of the phenomenon.
“We intend to ensure that we are working collaboratively together because we have identified that each of these organisations have a role to play in order to minimize the devastating impact of this practice in the Ghanaian society. At the end of this training, we expect that we will have a very strong network of organisations working in this industry to provide information, protecting and preventing the occurrence of this practice…”
The sensitization took place at Kedjebi in the Oti Region and involved stakeholders such as CHRAJ, Social Welfare, Ghana Education Service, traditional leaders, religious and faith-based organisations.
A whopping 40 million people are reported to be victims of modern-day slavery globally; with 21 million in forced labour and 15 million in forced marriages.
A further breakdown of statistics reveal that 71% of victims are women and girls while 25% are children.
A female participant observed that many assume slavery is something in the past, however, it is still happening today in various forms with children bearing the brunt.
“Action aid has realised that modern-day slavery is affecting everyone, especially women and children, and is encouraging all institutions within Kejebi, Nkwanta and Jasikan Districts to work together to eradicate the phenomenon.”
Another participant noted that modern-day slavery can be likened to human trafficking where people are compelled to work against their wishes and the victims are denied their basic rights and freedoms.
