The Impact of Slave Trade on the Tourism

The slave trade was initiated and run by the Europeans, but it was the role of Africans to kidnap people. The slavers would patrol across African nations, preying on unaware villagers to kidnap them. Generally, it took several months to transport the slaves to the Ghanaian coast. On arrival at the coastal region, the enslaved people were taken to slave forts, where they spent their last days waiting for a slave vessel to arrive. Most of these forts still stand in Ghana’s historical cities, such as Cape Coast. Many travel from various corners of the world to see these forts, castles and learn more about the slave route experience in Ghana.

Africans were handed over to the Europeans, or new slavers who would take them on a journey to their final destination. The enslaved people were sold and resold to various owners on the way to their destination. They were stripped of their belongings, branded, chained, and sent below decks, after boarding the slave ship. They were forced to remain below decks for most of the months-long journey. Their journey was unimaginable horror as they approached an alien and hostile world.

The slave decks were only a few meters high, and the slaves were packed together, lying down, side by side, and head to foot. The Deck was in bad condition, and staying there for months was the worst nightmare. The Slave traders considered the kidnapped people as cargo, and therefore, they designed the slave ships to accommodate a large number of people. These traders were not concerned about the slave’s health conditions, and most died due to excessive torture, malnutrition, suffocation, and other diseases.

The poor conditions of the deck, the bad smell, and the fear resulted in madness and many suicide attempts. The Portuguese sailors referred to the slave ships as floating tombs because of their poor conditions. Those who survived the beatings and the pathetic conditions arrived when disabled by beatings or diseases. To ensure that all the losses were covered by insurance, many slave captains threw sick and injured people into the sea.

Despite being weak, sick, and mad, the slave often fought back against the traders and sailors. For over three hundred ships, the captives on the slave deck tried to overthrow the traders. There are several instances where these captives won and escaped. For example, in 1839, a group of Africans defeated the sailor and traders and eventually returned home. The victorious teams of slaves successfully sailed the ship into the port and then returned to their villages.
Depopulation and fear negatively affected productivity in many parts of Ghana. Economic and agricultural production and development declined consistently.
The slave traders kidnapped women of their childbearing age and young men at their age of starting families. The elderly people, disabled, and other categories that are not independent and energetic were not kidnapped. The slavers only carried the most fruitful people because they expected them to be beneficial.
Although the slave trade generated great wealth for many countries, companies, and people, the brutal kidnapping of human beings and the massive deaths resulted in strategic opposition to this trade.
The impact of the trade is still visible in Ghana today. The American traders did business at trading posts run by the British, French, Dutch, Germans, Spanish, Portuguese, and others, including Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle. Most forts and castles are still in good condition and attract thousands of visitors each. In coordination with the tourism authority, the Ghanaian government has created a good environment for enslaved Africans’ descendants, who are encouraged to learn more about their history.