Prostitution in Ghana

Abrakrees were "public women" or prostitutes among some Akan states of the Gold Coast between the 17th and 19th centuries. These public women were made up of slaves and outcasts. Olfert Dapper documented on the abrakrees in the 1668 where he noted their presence in Axim and its surrounding areas. The Abrakrees operated under the Kabaseros or headmen according to Dapper. He also documented the ceremonies carried out by the kabaseros which initiated the abrakrees into work.[17]

Although the Blacks along this coast and in the interior marry as many wives as they can maintain, it is customary in Atzijn [Axim] and all the surrounding areas, as far as the Quaqua Coast, for every village to maintain two or three whores, whom they call Abrakrees. They are initiated and confirmed for the conduct of this work by their Kabaseros or headmen in the presence of a large crowd of people, in the following manner. First they place these whores, who are certain purchased slaves, with many foolish and ridiculous ceremonies upon a straw mat and display them. Then one of the oldest among them, standing up, takes a young hen, opens its beak with a knife and lets a few drops of blood drip on her head, shoulders and arms. At the same time, she utters upon it terrible adjurations, saying that [she?] shall die unless she accept as lover for three of four kakraven (worth two or three stuivers), notwithstanding the applicants be of rich means; and this without excluding their own blood relatives. Everything she gains in this way she must hand to the Kabasero, and in return she enjoys the liberty of being allowed to take any food, whether it stands in someone's house or in the market, for her sustenance, and nobody may prevent her from doing so, upon a fixed penalty. When this has happened, one person from the crowd is sent to one side with her and, upon their return, testifies that she has been found to be not a man but a woman. Then her companion, namely the other Abrakree or whore, takes her home; she is washed, and a clean bed-sheet is wrapped around her. She then sits down on the mat, a bracelet of beads is put on her arm, and her shoulders, arms and breast are painted with lime or chalk. Finally this Abrakree is put on a stool and carried by two young men on their shoulders; they run into the village with much cheering by those following them, and they greatly enjoy themselves dancing and drinking palm or bordon wine. On eight consecutive days thereafter she goes to sit at her appointed place, where all passers-by must give her two or three kakraven...

— Dapper.[17]

Professor of history Akyeampong, states that the abrakree served as a public service rather than an institution to acquire wealth though sex work. It was the chief that received the remuneration paid to the abrakree.[17]

In 1702, Willem Bosman confirmed Dapper’s account on the abrakrees of Axim. He comments in addition, that the states of Komenda, Elmina, Fetu, Asebu and possibly the Fante "have none of these whores." Jean Gadot published an account on the abrakree in 1704 following his visit to Assini, west of Axim in Ivory Coast around 1701. He wrote that the King of Assini maintained six women in all villages and towns to provide services to bachelors. They wrapped their heads with white linen in order to be distinguished from other women. The abrakree lived on the town's outskirt.[17] Married men who utilized the services of Assini's abrakree were punished and fined.[17][18] Another variant of public women were priestesses. In 1851, Anthony van der Eb described the public women in Ahanta as "fetish women who were slaves initiated into priesthood." According to historian Akyeampong, "These slaves, as soon as they reached marriageable age, were initiated by the priests and priestesses. They were made available to every man for the payment of a small amount in gold-dust, except for the men who first slept with them after the initiation. These men were obliged to pay a larger sum which was used for the purchase of new girls for the profession. Of this fee, part was given to the male or female owners."[17]

There also existed prostitutes among the Akan states that were not slaves, in contrast to the public women. For instance, they were documented in 1602 by Pieter de Marees. In the early 18th century, Bosman wrote of the women in Elmina, Fetu, Asebu and probably the Fante, who engaged in sexual activities in exchange for negotiated price.[17] In the early 19th century, Thomas Edward Bowdich reported on prostitution in the Ashanti Empire;

Prostitutes are numerous and countenanced. No Ashantee forces his daughter to become the wife of the man he wishes, but he instantly disclaims her support and protection on her refusal, and would persecute the mother if she afforded it; thus abandoned, they would have no resource but prostitution.

— Bowdich.[17]