The Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Wisdom Ahadzi, has noted with deep concern, the scattered history around slavery in the region and is hoping to lead steps to authenticate some of the stories properly and to document them.
Speaking at the 2024 edition of the Emancipation Day held at the Pikoro Slave Camp in the Kassena Nankana West District, Mr. Ahadzi observed that there are a lot of stories on slavery in the region that have not been documented.
He is perturbed that these stories could be forgotten if they are left authenticated and undocumented. have not been documented and could be lost or not with time.
Viewed as the roots of slavery, the Pikoro Slave Camp on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, served host to the regional Emancipation Day aimed at promoting tourism and telling the story of slavery once again.
The Pikoro Slave Camp was founded in 1704. It remained active until 1845, nearly 121 years of serving as a slave transit center where enslaved persons were auctioned and later sold in the Salaga Market having endured a 150-kilometer walk.
At the camp, a story is told of how human beings were made to eat from holes created in rocks, a particular rock that served as a source of entertainment since it comes with different sounds, the meeting place where slaves were eventually auctioned, the slave tower, where guards kept an eye over the entire camp, the punishment rock and the cemetery for slaves who did not make it while serving their sentence.
While the story of slavery at the camp is documented, the Regional Director is hopeful that with support from the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the doted stories could be documented.
“The Ghana Tourism Authority, Bolga office is aware of the dotted slave stories around and will work together with various paramountcy’s to package all for the best experiences in future. We can do it with the support of our head office and of course, by the collaboration and partnership from individuals and companies,” he stated.
President of the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs and Paramount Chief of the Chiana Traditional Area, Pe Dituundini Adiana Ayagitam III, in his address called for the sustenance of the Emancipation Day.
He indicated that the experiences over the years must spur Ghanaians on to work to achieve inclusiveness and sustainable development. According to Chiana Pio, there is no room for any form of discrimination in any part of the world, adding the existence of such discriminatory tendencies must be fought.
“While the scars of slavery and slave trade will continue to be engraved in our minds for many centuries, we must use these experiences left behind in Ghana and any other country to spur us on to work more diligently to create sustainable pathways that enhance our unity and strengthen our resilience towards a change that is inclusive and transformative.”
“We can only build stronger communities and create a brighter future through a demonstration of individual and collective commitment. Let us therefore vow never to allow the dark days to occur and let us continue to fight all forms of discrimination. There is no space for any form of discrimination anywhere in the world.” The paramount ruler stressed.
Representing the Diasporan Family from America, Thomas Riddick, indicated that he has led the construction of boreholes in communities in Paga adding they will soon build a school in Paga.
This year’s Emancipation Day was under the theme “Unity and Resilience; building stronger communities for a brighter future.”
