Mr. Chairman, Togbuiwo (Chiefs), Mamawo (Queen Mothers), Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today is a very special day in the development of the Agave area. Today is a turning point to which future generations will look back and rejoice, for when the degrading and inhumane practice of trokosi is finally routed from your community, then all of your daughters will be able to relax and breathe free, knowing they will not and cannot be taken into servitude. What an incredible gift that will be for your daughters! What a terrible burden they have lived under all these years, knowing that if someone fell sick, or if someone hoped for a better crop, or even if someone lost an earring, they and even their children yet unborn may be forced into servitude of a most degrading nature. How debilitating the practice of trokosi has been to your community! What joy we all feel today that you are taking even one step toward doing away with a practice that so retarded the development of the entire area! This is a momentous occasion, and we rejoice with you at the courageous decision you have made.

They say any old dead fish can float downriver, but it takes a live one and a strong one to swim upsteam. Many are those who like to float downriver, but the nature of true leaders is that they find the strength to swim upstream. You who have taken this decision today, shrine owners, priests and elders, community leaders, government leaders, leaders in education and health and every other area of development, you have shown yourselves to be true leaders. May the Creator of all things bless you richly for the step you are taking today. You heard the voices of the opposition, the voices that would like you to float downstream, but you knew in your hearts it was right to end this practice, and you have had the courage to do right. On behalf of the International team of Every Child Ministries, we congratulate you.

I speak to the girls who have been forced into this practice. Today your community gives you a priceless gift—your freedom, your life. I urge you to use these gifts well in order to give back to your community and to your nation. You have felt degraded, but you are of great value in the sight of God. I want you to know that thousands upon thousands of people around the whole world have been praying for you. God bless you all richly.

There are likely here today some from communities that have not yet ended the grievous practice of trokosi. I speak to you now. There is an idea being widely disseminated that, at no matter what disservice to the nation, trokosi must at all costs be preserved. It is our tradition, some say, and we can't be who we are without it. Frankly, I'm surprised that otherwise seemingly intelligent people would set forth such a faulty argument. Should all cultures preserve every practice in their history just because it is their tradition or a part of their culture? Let's think about that for a moment. Every horrendous practice in the world is or has been a part of someone's culture. There was a culture which considered those of non-German descent as less than human—as something like rats, and as such to be exterminated. They defended their killing of millions on the basis that it was their culture. Was the world wrong in rejecting their claim?

We Americans had a tradition that was very much like trokosi. I am ashamed to say it, but it is true. It was called slavery. Some slave owners didn't like to call it slavery. They said their slaves were treated more like members of the family, in much the same way that some today say that trokosis are treated like queens. In fact the way American slaves were treated was not all that different than the stories I've heard so many times from women liberated from trokosi.

Slavery was part of our culture, too. Many in our country howled that their culture was based on free labor in the fields. They insisted that their culture could not survive without enslaving others. The abolition of slavery was a hard fight, but I thank God we got rid of it.

And do you know what? Our culture did not end just because we got rid of that ugly, dehumanizing tradition. In fact, it prospered more after the abolition of slavery.

Don't you see that if you defend the right of a people to do injustice in the name of tradition and culture, then literally ANYTHING goes? Virtually any heinous practice can be defended in that manner, and has been.

You want to hold on to Ghanaian culture and tradition, and no one will argue with that. There are many parts of your culture well worth holding onto. It's easy to see that your culture is unusually rich in art, in folklore, in music and dance. The parables of your elders express wisdom in such a vivid and thought provoking manner that they have been collected and circulated by many, even by Christian missionaries. I love your Kente cloth. There is much of value in your culture. Hold on to those qualities—qualities of beauty and virtue—qualities that are recognized as good by people everywhere. Yes, by all means, hold on to that part of your culture.

But remember, traditions and culture are made by fallible men. No culture is perfect. Every culture has traditions that hold within themselves the seeds of self-destruction. As cultures progress, wise people let some parts of their culture die, in order that the people of that culture might live more rich and fulfilling lives—in order that the culture may advance. As cultures progress, the fish in each community have to decide whether they will float downstream or whether they will swim upstream. Some of you are still thinking about this. We of Every Child Ministries encourage you to show the courage of leaders. We encourage you to swim upstream. We encourage you to assure to your daughters a life of freedom rather than slavery, of confidence rather than fear. We encourage you to make a positive step toward the development of your community. Trokosi is a shameful practice that is not worthy of the great nation of Ghana. You have within your hands the power to stop it.

We of Every Child Ministries congratulate the brave chiefs, elders, shrine owners, priests, and other community leaders who have had the wisdom, the common sense, and the courage to end in their communities a practice that is so evidently destructive. These people are true leaders and heroes who will go down in the history of this nation as being men—and women—who made a positive difference.

Certainly if Ghana wants to take its place in the modern world, if Ghana wants to be esteemed by other nations, if Ghana wants to encourage development and progress, then trokosi MUST be abolished—completely and permanently.

It has been said recently that those of us who are working for the abolishment of this dehumanizing practice are somehow putting the peace of the nation at risk. Nothing could be further from the truth. Everyone here loves peace, and we know that this nation cannot be at peace as long as it abuses some of its own citizens in such an offensive manner.

Neither is it true that NGO's like International Needs and Every Child Ministries are persecuting African Traditional Religion and forcing people to become Christians. Those who make such claims either have an abysmal lack of understanding of Christianity, or they are just not truthful and will say anything they think may advance their cause. Or both. Their argument is ludicrous. Christianity is a matter of the heart, so how would you force someone to become a Christian, anyway? That is an utter impossibility.

We are concerned, however, about the lack of freedom of religion accorded the trokosi in the shrines. That is where the true coercion lies. So many of these girls have told me that they were forced to worship the fetish. That is a violation of the Constitution of this great nation, and an offense to almighty God. We seek freedom for these women who are also citizens of this nation and as such entitled to the privileges afforded all citizens in the Constitution. Beyond that, God Himself is the author of freedom of religion, for He created us with the awesome ability to choose. It's true that we of Every Child Ministries believe Jesus Christ has a lot to offer these girls—a lot to offer anyone—life, light, dignity, value, love, forgiveness, hope—well, I could go on and on. We welcome an opportunity to share the truths of Jesus with them or with anyone, but we will never force anyone to come to Jesus. We will simply present the Good News and we will honor the decision each person makes. The power of choice is part of our unique personhood, part of who God made us to be, something so sacred that it must never be violated.

As of today, the development of this community will no longer be chained by the shackles of the past. Trokosi shackles not only the girls who are enslaved in the shrines. The entire community has been held back by this destructive tradition. Today, not only these girls are being freed. This entire community is being freed. The agreements being signed here today state clearly that no human being will ever again be enslaved in these shrines. Parents, you will never again be forced to give one of your lovely daughters over to such a horrendous fate. Daughters, you need not worry again that if the crops fail, or if someone gets sick, or if the god of the shrine says that someone years ago committed some crime, that YOU may have to live a life of suffering and misery. You need not worry again!

Education can now go forward. Truly, future generations will look back at the decision you made here today and give you thanks. Many voices blew their horns all around you, trying desperately to make you bend to their will, but you stood strong. You knew in your hearts what was right, and you did it. Your children, born and unborn, thank you. You did this for them, and they will never forget you. May God bless each and every one of you.

Thank you.

Follow up efforts after the liberation:

Following the Agave liberation, the organization that partnered with ECM in the liberation offered vocational training to the survivors and helped them get started in business.  Most of them accepted, .although a few who were very old sent their daughters to the training.  As a result they became tailors, soap makers, batik cloth designers, bakers and hair dressers all over the region.  Every Child Ministries offered direct aid, primarily in the form of clothing and needed medications, and still provides continuous counseling and Bible teaching to those who desire it.  Our counselor Mary travels throughout the region each week, meeting survivors in homes, churches, schools, and under trees, offering friendship, acceptance, encouragement, hope and healing.  Every Child Ministries also targeted the community for other community youth development projects.  The mothers of two children had died in slavery.  These children are now thriving at ECM's Haven of Hope home.

Thank you, ECM partners, for making all this possible!

Current needs for the area:
Finances for Mary's follow-up travels & for a ministry partner for her.
Contact us for current details.

 Want to hear Lorella in person?

Request Lorella to speak as an advocate for the trokosi slave children at your church or meeting.  To contact her, click here.

 Not familiar with the vocabulary used in this speech?  Check out terminology in the Dictionary of Trokosi Terms (takes you off ECM's website--come back soon!)

Does Mama Lorella seem like she's arguing with someone but you're not sure who it is?  Check out what the opposition to liberating the slaves is saying, and compare it with the TRUTH. (This link takes you off ECM's website--come back soon!)

 Back to Slave Child Main Page

Take me to Frequently Asked Questions about Trokosi

Let me read another of Mama Lorella's speeches on Ritual Servitude

Next Ghana Page

Back to ECM Home Page

Go to ECM's French website, Esclavage Modern (www.esclavagemodern.com)

  Every Child Ministries is fast emerging as one of the leading anti-slavery groups committed to the liberation of children from ritual servitude and the unconditional abolition of the practice of ritual servitude.  We invite your help.