African leaders must help continent overcome the inferior complex

Assin-Manso (C/R), Aug.2, GNA- Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II, Omanhen of Oguaa Traditional Area, on Friday charged African leaders, to ensure that their people overcome "the inferiority complex syndrome" that has come about as a result of the slave trade and other forms of slavery on the continent.

He said this can be done by ensuring that all African children are from the basic levels of education, educated to believe in themselves, and to have confidence in African values, in order to dispel the notion that anything African was inferior.

Osabarimba Atta, made the call at a grand durbar to mark this year's celebration of the "Emancipation Day" at Assin Manso, the acclaimed site of the "Ndokonsu" (Slave River) where slaves transported from the northern parts of the country were bathed before shipment to the Americas and the Caribbean from the Cape Coast castle. The remains of two former slaves, Samuel Carson and Crystal, brought from the United States and the Caribbean have also been re-interred there.

Emancipation Day, was originally celebrated in the Caribbean to commemorate the final abolition of chattel slavery in the British Colonies on August 1, 1834 and was introduced in the country ten years ago due to the significant role its played during that era and at the moment, the only African country that celebrate the day in solidarity with people in the Caribbean and elsewhere. The Omanhen said emancipation should not be a yearly but an everyday affair to rid the continent of all forms of slavery. He pointed out that, those who want Africans to believe that they are inferior, "are rather inferior to us" and stressed that emancipation must not be a yearly, but everyday affair.

For his part, the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, Mr Kofi Osei Ameyaw on Friday noted that the celebration of Emancipation Day and the Pan-African-Historical-Theatre-Festival (PANAFEST) are celebrated to foster unity among Africans and people of African descent and "not to open old wounds".

He said to forestall the re-occurrence of such "human tragedy in any guise", it was necessary to spread awareness and more detailed knowledge of the various aspects of the slave trade to enable peoples directly involved, as well as the public, to share the memories together so as to say, "never again" to chattel slavery and slavery of any form. Mr. Osei- Ameyaw said the story of the slave trade can now no longer be suppressed, because there are always references to the systematic plunder of the African race during when the physical, psychological, intellectual and culture of Africans were taken away resulting in racial prejudices that continue to affect people of African descent everywhere.

The Deputy Minister said the even though some people may wish to bury and forget the evils of slavery, the ghosts of these events still haunt both descendants of the slave masters and those enslaved and said there was the need to engage in a process that will placate the bitterness among all Africans to help re-unite that race.

He said, it was therefore, imperative for all to be vigilant and identify "modern slavery" that included racial and economic exploitation and help eliminate it for a sound society. Nana Afrifa Kyerempeh, Adontenhene of Assin Apimanim Traditional Area, in his welcoming address urged those from the Diaspora to pool their resources with those at home to help build a better future for the continent.

Barima Kwame Nkyi XII, Omanhene of the Assin Apimanim Traditional area also called for unity among all Africans to help eliminate modern slavery.

Wreaths were laid on the tombs of Carson and Crystal at the slave cemetery at Assin Manso.

A vigil was held at the Cape Coast Castle on Friday night as part of activities to usher in Emancipation Day. 02 Aug. 08