Accra, July 25, GNA - The people of Osu in Accra on Friday held a durbar to mark this year's Emancipation Day celebration on the theme: "Our Heritage, Our Strength."

The durbar which brought together the chiefs of the area and the people as well as chiefs from other parts of Accra was held in line with the belief that slave trade activities were carried on in the Osu area and some houses in the area had been identified as places where slaves were kept before being shipped to their final destinations. The chief of Osu, Nii Nortey Owuo III used the occasion to narrate oral history that confirms that slaves were taken from the area during the era of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

The ceremony was chaired by Nii Okaija III, Gbese Mantse as well as dignitaries from the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations. Emancipation Day is celebrated in Ghana to commemorate the final abolition of chattel slavery in the British colonies on August 1 1834. Ghana started celebrating Emancipation Day since 1998 to express solidarity with their brothers and sisters in the Diaspora and to create awareness of the evil nature of slavery of any form.

Mrs. Oboshie Sai-Cofie, Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, who said she also came from the Osu area, said there were many relics, monuments and cultural influences left behind as a result of slavery which could not be overlooked. "From the castles, forts, artifacts, names and even some traditions, they all have contributed to the history of the people of the Ga Traditional Area."

The Minister urged Ghanaians to look critically at the past, "learn from mistakes our forebears might have committed and resolve never to repeat them in our lifetime." Mrs. Sai-Cofie expressed regret that society still suffered from other forms of slavery and servitude. She said: "There are oppressions, human rights abuses and other blatant forms of disregard for the lives and freedom of some people in the world." She cited examples of child labour issues whereby children, some as young as five years had been sold by their parents in the name of poverty.

Mrs. Sai-Cofie said government was extremely concerned about the situation and was committed in its fight against such crimes and also against sex slavery and other forms of crimes against freedom and liberties of individuals. She announced that a committee had been set up in the Ga Mashie Traditional Area to help transform the area by creating more income-generating activities for the youth and also support the people to engage in viable businesses.