Ghana ranks 18th in first-ever global slavery index with 170,000 people enslaved
A major report and first of its kind on the state of global slavery has revealed that an estimated 170,000 to 190,000 persons living in Ghana are been enslaved.
The Global Slavery Index 2013 released this month October by Australia-based Walk Free Foundation, showed that Ghana was 18th-worst slave country in the world out of 162 countries.
The GSI provides an estimated range of the number of people in modern slavery, for each of the 162 countries covered by the Index.
In sub-Saharan Africa region, Ghana placed 13th as Mauritania topped the region with highest slave numbers.
Ghana has a population of over 25 million people.
According to the publishers of the report, the modern slavery prevalence estimates are a combined measure of three factors – the estimated prevalence of modern slavery by population, a measure of child marriage and data from human trafficking in and out of a country.
The Index also identifies factors that shed light on the risk of modern slavery in each country and examines the strength of government responses in tackling this issue for the 20 countries at the top and bottom of the Index ranking. The Index examines the priority given to rooting out modern slavery, the methods used to address the problem, and how they could be improved for each country.
Walk Free Foundation said in 2013, modern slavery took many forms, and is known by many names. “Whether it is called human trafficking, forced labour, slavery or slavery-like practices (a category that includes debt bondage, forced or servile marriage, sale or exploitation of children including in armed conflict) victims of modern slavery have their freedom denied, and are used and controlled and exploited by another person for profit, sex, or the thrill of domination,” it added.
Over 29 million people are living in conditions of modern slavery worldwide, the index’s data showed.
The report indicated that an estimated 15.88% of the estimated total persons in modern slavery globally are in sub-Saharan Africa.
It said even though Asia and Africa are home to the vast majority of modern slaves, no continent is free from modern slavery.
By Ekow Quandzie
IN FACT THIS IS A TRUE REFLECTION OF WHAT IS ON THE GROUND, WHERE PEOPLE ARE IGNORANTLY TAKEN FROM THE MOST DEPRIVED CORNERS OF THIS COUNTRY (Northern Ghana) TO WORK IN COCOA AND OTHER PLANTATION FARMS. IF NOT FOR ENTIRELY FREE, TAKE JUST A TOKEN NOT WORTH OF WHAT HE/ SHE HAS WORKED FOR. MODERN SLAVERY IS HAPPENING, WE TRIED ON A NUMBER OF TIMES PREVENTING IGNORANT YOUTH OF MY VILLAGE FROM TRAVELING TO THE SOUTH FOR THIS FOR OF SLAVERY BUT TO NO AVAIL.