US State Department condemns Trokosi

The 'Trokosi' system, a traditional practice found among the Ewe ethnic group in the Volta Region, has been described in the United States Department of State 2000 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom as a "severe human rights abuse and a flagrant violation of women's and children's rights".

The report, which covered January to August, last year, further disclosed that even though legislation has been passed banning the system it (system) still persists, howbeit on a limited scale. Although the constitution of Ghana prohibits slavery, religious slavery exists, the report disclosed.

"Trokosi, a traditional practice ethnic group and primarily in the Volta Region, is an especially severe human rights abuse and a flagrant violation of women's and children's rights".

The final report for 2000 will cover September to December and would be released next year, the Head of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour of the State Department, Mr. Tom Farr, told journalists Monday, last week.

The report described trokosi as a system in which a young girl, usually under the age of 10 years, is given by her family as a slave to a fetish shrine for offences allegedly committed by a member of the girl's family.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tom Farr, Director of the Bureau, has stated that the government of the United States of America has the legal muscle to sanction countries that infringe the religious freedoms of its citizens.

He was, however, quick to add that the law has not been activated as no evidence exists to suggest that its application will control the phenomenon.

"Under the laws of the United States it can sanction countries that encroach on the religious rights of its citizens.

Briefing a group of international journalists at the State Department Monday last week, Farr narrowed down on countries like Saudi Arabia and China, whose strict laws on region made them liable under the law.

The Office of International Religious Rights is headquartered in the State Department and operates primarily to investigate such infractions on religious freedoms.

The outcome of the investigation is published yearly as country reports. Only the USA is not covered by the report.

The report is submitted to the Committee on Foreign Relations, US Senate and the Committee on International Relations, US House of Representatives.

The report noted that "much of the world's population live in countries where the right to religious freedoms is restricted or prohibited" despite the fact that 144 countries belong to an international covenant that acknowledges the right of all citizens to religious freedom.

Countries like Sudan, Myanmar (Burma), China, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia were described as the worst culprits.