Prof Akosua Perbi: The Legacy of Indigenous Slavery in Ghana since 1874

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The Legacy of Indigenous Slavery in Ghana since 1874
Prof Akosua Perbi
2 October 2014
Written documents and Oral traditions collected by Prof Akosua Perbi since 1975 all seem to inform us that indigenous slavery is an immemorial institution. Indeed, the 1969, 1972 and 1992 constitutions of Ghana all speak against slavery and forced labor. As a member of the United Nations (UN) organization, Ghana has signed all the relevant treaties prohibiting slavery and the slave trade. It is therefore intriguing that in spite of all of the laws passed and treaties signed, the effects slavery and the slave trade persist. Most notably, the ripple effects can be felt in areas such as in chieftaincy disputes, property rights (especially land tenure) and social interactions (especially intergenerational social stigma). Prof Akosua Perbi will go in-depth into the subject providing a plethora of well-researched examples to make her case that, although abolished by the British in 1874, the effects of slavery in Ghana are still with us today.
Disclaimer: The views expressed herein are solely those of the presenter in a personal academic capacity and do not necessarily represent the views of the Institute of African Studies.