“The Emotional Wellbeing of Liberated Trokosi-‘Slave of the god’ girls and women”
By Victoria Baah-Binney, MA
I agree with Gerald Corey that the most important instrument a counselor can implement is the therapist. My story of life and how I overcome difficult challenges is very key in becoming authentic with my client. Being transparent with the client will translate into the therapeutic relationship. If I hid behind my role as a therapist, the client will also hid. What makes the difference with our profession is the advocacy aspect of the profession. Seeking the wellbeing of the client and making sure that I am providing a wellness continuum and not just “one-day fix”.
Harmful traditions sometimes seem impossible to change. Practices like female genital mutilation and early marriage receive global attention due to their severe impact on the health and well-being of females. The world is silent on Trokosi which is a form of legitimized slavery in Ghana, Togo, Benin and some parts in Nigeria. The word “trokosi” in the Ewe language means “slaves of the gods”. Virgin girls ages 6-15 are given to village priests as a way of appeasing the gods for crimes committed by family members.
Once given to the priest, a girl becomes his property and is made to carry our domestic chores such as cooking, washing, farming, sexual servitude etc. Some of the girls and women are fortunate to be liberated by organizations. Due to the stigma and fear generated by the Trokosi system in Ghana, people do not normally wish to associate themselves with the liberated Trokosis. As a result, though liberated they are shunned by their own communities including friends and neighbors. They are forced to leave for big towns and cities, and even abroad, where their anonymity could guarantee them a better life. In many cases, their identities soon become known and the problems of stigmatization reoccur including economic and social marginalization.
This is a practice for centuries but I think working on liberating is not enough, but counseling professionals can collaborate with stake holders, government agencies, and community leaders to end this practice to prevent future occurrences. Even though the constitution of Ghana states clear that there should not be any form of slavery. But then you wonder why this practice still exits. The counseling profession can bring hope to this vulnerable girls and women by leading this prevention with research, advocacy and leadership. These will inform clinicians on effective strategies to address those affected by this practice.
Seeking the emotional and psychological wellbeing of Trokosi girls and women is very important and not just liberated. For their emotional healing is very important even as they seek to gain to build their socio-economic life.