Exhibition on slavery opens at Elmina Castle

THE Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana and the Zeeuws Archief, Netherlands, have opened an exhibition on slavery at the Elmina Castle to inspire a fair world for all.

The exhibition is on the theme: "Resistance and Resilience: Narratives from Northern Ghana and Zeeuws Archief."

It has two sub-themes: "Slavery resistance narratives in Northern Ghana; Every human being is a human being," and "Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade: The unity and freedom's narratives from the Zeeland archives".

The exhibition organised with support from the Netherlands Embassy and the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB) combines text, audio-visual and physical objects to vividly tell the story of slavery and the struggle for freedom.

The exhibition exemplifies the shared commitment to preserving and honouring historical narratives that shape society's understanding of the past.

It also tells the narratives of the people Sankana, Sandema, Salaga, Gwollu, Nalerigu and Pikworo communities and the impact of the slave trade on these communities

The exhibition, which would run till October, is expected to help patrons reflect on the stories and renew their commitment to honouring the resilience and resistance of those who endured the adversities of the slave trade.

It is also anticipated to inspire all to strive towards a future of justice, equality and respect for all.

The Director of the Institute of African Studies, Prof. Samuel Aniegye Ntewusu, said the subject of slavery remains a global discourse making the exhibition of local, national and international relevance.

Prof. Ntewusu said while the story of the inhumane treatment suffered by communities in Northern Ghana had been untold until now, research had challenged the widely held narrative about the enslaved as docile and passive victims.

The Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana, Jeroen Verheul, said the exhibition connected two sides of the same coin and looked at the impact on both Ghana and the Netherlands looking at the resistance and resilience of the slavery history which was usually undocumented and forgotten.

He expressed the hope that the exhibition would ensure the current and future generations resisted all forms of slavery.

The United Nations Educational Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Cultural Officer in Ghana, Carl Ampah, said values and cultural heritage must be held in high esteem and for posterity.