Ghana: Information on the evidence of the Yewe (Voodoo) cult, or other cults, among the Ewe tribe and on whether authorities would condone abductions and the forceful recruitment of cult members
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 June 1996 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | GHA24278.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ghana: Information on the evidence of the Yewe (Voodoo) cult, or other cults, among the Ewe tribe and on whether authorities would condone abductions and the forceful recruitment of cult members, 1 June 1996, GHA24278.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad1440.html [accessed 3 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Information on Yewe cult could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.
The Trokosi traditional practice, which has emerged from the same belief system as voodoo (The Independent 16 June 1996), is found among the Ewe and Ada ethnic groups of West Africa (Deutche Presse-Agentur 21 Jan. 1996).
According to Country Reports 1995, Trokosi means "vestal virgin" (1996, 111). Other sources indicate that Trokosi means "fetish slaves" (The Independent 16 June 1996; Sunday Times 30 Oct. 1994).
According to Country Reports 1995, the Trokosi system is "a traditional practice in which a young girl, usual under the age of 10, is made a slave to a fetish shrine for offences allegedly committed by a member of the girls family" (1996, 111).
The same source states that the parliament "has yet to pass a law explicitly prohibiting Trokosi" despite the fact that the constitution outlaws slavery (Country Reports 1995. 1996, 112). President Jerry Rawlings, who is himself an Ewe, defended the practice, saying that Trokosi is "an important part of Ghana's cultural heritage" (The Independent 16 June 1996).
For additional information on Trokosi, please consult the attached articles.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Country Reports on Human Practices for 1995. 1996. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.
Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 21 January 1996. BC Cycle. Mawusi Afele. "Fetish Priests in Ghana Under Attack for Enslaving Young Girls." (NEXIS)
The Independent [London]. 16 June 1996. Emma Brooker. "Slaves of the Fetish." (NEXIS)
Sundays Times [London]. 30 October 1994. Anna Pukas. "Village Children of Eight Forces into Life of Sex Slavery in Ghana." (NEXIS)
Attachments
Capital Times [Washington, DC]. 4 March 1996. Laurie Burnstein. "Seeing Africa Through Togolese Eyes." (NEXIS)
Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 21 January 1996. BC Cycle. Mawusi Afele. "Fetish Priests in Ghana Under Attack for Enslaving Young Girls." (NEXIS)
The Independent [London]. 16 June 1996. Emma Brooker. "Slaves of the Fetish." (NEXIS)
Sundays Times [London]. 30 October 1994. Anna Pukas. "Village Children of Eight Forces into Life of Sex Slavery in Ghana." (NEXIS)
