The cry of trokosi girls in Ghana. A qualitative study of the trokosi practice in Ghana in light of diakonia and human rights.

Abstract

Children especially girls are under different types of oppression in Sub-Saharan Africa due to various practices, belief systems, values, and laws. In Ghana, one practice that seems to subjugate women and girls in particular is the troxorvi system. Troxorvi or trokosi is a practice that involves the acceptance of human being especially virgin girls for the atonement of real or alleged misconduct of a family member. The committed girl stays in the shrine as a “slave” and owes allegiance to the deity for the rest of her life. However, contemporary societies frown upon and make laws to eradicate any form of slavery due to its human right abuses. In 1998, Ghana amended her laws prohibiting the troxorvi practice as well as committing herself to human rights values by signing most of the international laws on human rights including those on children and women. After a decade of promulgation of the Law against the troxorvi practice, not even a single culprit has been arrested. The study explores the human rights abuses within the troxorvi system and efforts by diaconal actors. It further explores how diakonia could be employed as a multidimensional approach towards eradication of the troxorvi practice in Ghana.