Adidome (Volta Region) 17 Dec. '99 - Twenty-eight former Trokosis on Thursday graduated from the International Needs Vocational Training Centre at Adidome in the North Tongu district of the Volta region.
They are the third batch of trokosis to have passed out of the centre since its inception in 1990 by the International Needs, Ghana (ING), an NGO campaigning against the trokosi practice in the country. Under the trokosi system, which is practised in the Volta, Greater Accra and some parts of the Eastern region, innocent young girls are sent to fetish shrines to atone for sins committed by their forefathers. The former trokosis trained in dress-making, baking and confectionery, kente weaving and hair dressing.
They were presented with sewing machines, hair dryers and accessories, weaving looms, cooking utensils and a seed fund of 100,000 cedis each. Mr. Joseph K.A. Amenorhu, District Chief Executive, commended the ING and all NGOs involved in the district, adding that the district assembly would assist the graduates through its poverty reduction programme.
Rev. Walter Pimpong, Executive Director of ING, said beginning next year the organisation would introduce modular courses for the women. Rev. Bimpong said there is evidence that trokosi was spoken against as far back as 1919 and "this in itself is enough evidence that the people in the communities where this is being practised are not happy about it''. He called on district assemblies to join them in the educational campaign to enlighten the people about the evil aspects of the practice.
