Agave area, Volta Region, Ghana, Ghana

The Adzimu shrine priestess and owners admittedly practice a form of slavery commonly called trokosi, but called customary or ritual servitude by the Ghana government. It is a combination of sexual and labor slavery and somewhat akind to servile marriage, because the girls are thought to be married to the gods of the shrine and sex with the priest or elders of the shrine is considered sacred because his (their) genitals are devoted to the deities of the shrine. About 16 girls are believed to be in bondage within the confines of the shrine, with about 600 living outside the shrine in involuntary subservience to the shrine. This practice permits girls to live outside the shrine under certain strict conditions and controls, including payment of a very expensive sacrifice at the annual festival. Adzimu is a head shrine having jurisdiction over three others.

Location

Ghana · Agave area, Volta Region, Ghana · 2008 (location generalized to protect survivors)

Response & intervention

Intervention attempts not successful so far. Attempted liberation efforts by NGO's have not succeeded so far. One of the main focus points of Every Child Ministries is an anti-slavery/anti-trafficking initiative on behalf of African children. The organization has conducted extensive research into the issue of ritual servitude and follows all the shrines of the area that still hold trokosi slaves.

Documented on the original SlaveryMap (2008–2016). We don't have a verifiable source on file yet — use “Report a problem” below to add one.

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