The Three Faces of Africa, DRP - Diaspora Reconnection Program visited the Assin Manso Slave River Park commemorating the last bath and the first bath of return for our members.

Assin Manso Ancestral Slave River Park was one of the largest slave markets for gathering people to sell into slavery during the infamous trans-Atlantic slave trade. It is especially worth seeing as a prelude to viewing Cape Coast slave castle since you will be following the route taken by the ancestors of many African Americans.

It was the final link in the slavery route from northern Ghana and was known to have been the largest slave market for the merchant supplying slaves on the forts and castles on the coast.

Trans – Atlantic slave trade came about when people were needed to work on agricultural and mines since the Europeans are not suitable to the climate and not able to survive the tropical disease during the agricultural and mines work. Trans – Atlantic slave trade because, already manufactured goods (tobacco, spirits, beads, cloths, guns etc.) were taken from Europe to Africa in exchange of human beings. Then the exchanged goods (human beings) are shipped to work on plantations and mines. The merchants then return to Europe with the produce from the slave’s labor plantations (cloths, sugar, tobacco, etc.). The transport of the slaves from Africa to America forms the middle passage of the triangular trade.

Assin Manso served as the place where slaves had their last bath on their journey. It also has the site where the returned remains of 2 diasporans (Lady Crystal from Jamaica and Carson from New York) were re-buried. The Emancipation day durbar together with the visit to the slave river as well as laying of wreaths at the graves of returnees are thus held annually on August 1 to commemorate and climax the celebrations.

Our members experienced a range of emotions from disgust, sadness, horror, finally joy, and calming peace of returning, fulfilling the desire of our ancestors.