GlobalGiving.org: Saving Children Sold Into Slavery in Ghana

Never's Story--The Smiling Face of Success

Niurka Pineiro — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:19:11 GMT

Never

“My name is Never and I am 18 years old. When I was 10, I was removed from school along with my younger brother and sister and we were sent to work with a fisherman. The work was hard and very dangerous.”

Never and his siblings had a normal life until their father began experiencing financial problems and was not able to provide for his large family. The parents were approached by a fisherman who offered to care and send the kids to school in exchange for some work. He offered to pay US$200 for each child, but only paid US$133 for the three.

Once in the fishing community Never worked 14-hour days. A typical started at 5am when he and other children would set off in the dark to begin a long day on the lake. After a meager lunch, they would continue fishing and repairing nets. Never and his siblings would return from work at 7pm.

Although they caught many fish, these were sold by the ‘master’ and were never allowed to use for their own consumption.

“Being sick was not an option,” recalls Never. “When we complained, they would beat us with paddles and force us to continue working.”

Never missed his family so much that he often dreamt of the day when someone would come and take him home. Never was exploited for 2 years before being rescued.

“It was 6pm when an IOM team came on a rescue mission to the village. If not for IOM, I don’t know how my life would be today. Because of what happened to us, we did not behave like other kids, so IOM gave us training before we were brought back to our homes,” adds Never.

The horrific experience kept haunting him even after he returned home. “Sometimes I dreamt of big fish chasing me in a river,” recounts Never.

But he does not blame the fisherman who treated him badly. “I know it is their way of doing business; sometimes it comes from ignorance.”

He is a happy and well-adjusted teenager living with his family and currently in his last year of High School. He believes education has changed him. He speaks English and interacts with friends and other people.

“If I manage to finish school, I will teach my younger brothers and sisters how to read and write, so that they will be like me,” he states proudly.

Never has many plans for the future: “If I have the money, I will set up a business for my family, so that they will not suffer from poverty again.” Never hopes his story will bring rescue to hundreds of children who remain trafficked.

Trafficked Children

Erin Anderson — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:57:15 GMT

Dear Friend,

I’m writing to update you on the progress and development of IOM’s Trafficked Children of Ghana project, which undertakes the rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration of children trafficked for labor exploitation by fisherman on Lake Volta in Ghana. In March, we wrote about the upcoming rescue of trafficked children working under hazardous labor conditions in the fishing industry along the Volta Lake in Ghana. We are happy to report that 20 children were rescued in that mission and are now being housed at a rehabilitation center run by Ghana’s Department of Social Welfare where they will undergo physical and psychological rehabilitation and attend classes for three months before being reunited with their parents in their communities of origin. Trafficked at young ages, their experiences have left deep mental and physical marks on the children. Upon rescue, they showed very high levels of malnutrition, stunted growth, malaria and worm infections that needed urgent treatment. These children will continue to receive critical support as they are reintegrated into their communities.

We would also like to share with you the news that Eric Peasah, who has been the Counter Trafficking Field Manager with IOM Ghana since 2005 will be departing this position in July. Eric’s tireless work on behalf of trafficked in children in Ghana has contributed to the rescue of hundreds of children. His support and advocacy on behalf of these children has proved invaluable to the project over the years and resulted in a legacy of rescued children who will now have brighter futures because of his efforts. While we are sad to see Eric depart, the important work of rescuing and rehabilitating trafficked children in Ghana will continue.

Thousands of other Ghanaian child victims of trafficking will continue to work in dangerous, exploitative conditions with little chance of escape unless funds can be raised for their rescue. Since 2002, IOM has rescued a total of 731 children with support from the United States Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM). However, in recent years as funding has declined, IOM has been supported by many private donations as well. IOM is now appealing for funds from donors around the world so that the Organization can continue to provide this critical support to trafficked children after September 2011, when current funding runs out.

Thank you for all you have done!

Best,

Erin

Kwame's Story

Jennifer Asuako — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 19:55:26 GMT

Dear Donor,

Your continued support makes a difference in the lives of trafficked children in Ghana. It gives them hope. It helps them go to school. It gives them a chance for the future. Please find attached the story of “Kwame”.

Donate now:

For as little as US$ 20 per month, you can help us rescue and rehabilitate a fishing child. Your support will help reunite these children with their families and send them to school so that they can have a promising future.

To make a donation please proceed to ‘MAKE A DONATION’ on the IOM website (www.iom.int). Choose “PROJECT: Trafficked Children of Ghana” and click on “Donate Now” to make donations to our project.

___

“Kwame”, now 15 years old, was among the 36 trafficked children rescued by IOM Ghana in 2008. He comes from one of the fishing communities in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region of Ghana. Prior to his rescue, he was working with a fisherman as a fishing boy in one of the fishing Islands along the Volta Lake.

During his rescue, it was discovered that his left eye was severely injured and needed medical attention. Before being rescued, he informed the IOM team that his injury was as a result of sand entering into the eye but later confessed during rehabilitation that he was injured as a result of diving under the water to disentangle a fishing net. While under the water, a stick pierced his left eye...

See the attached report for pictures and the rest of Kwame's story.

Attachments:

November Newsletter (PDF)

Trafficked Children Getting Back on Track

Sarah Riczo — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 20:08:03 GMT

Mary and her driver met us at Mamkessem and drove us in a dirt road to a village called set right on the coast called Immuna. The beautiful surroundings concealed the darker side of this town. We met with the village chief who, through a translator, told us that many children from the village had been trafficked in to the fishing industry. Men come to take them to promise parents that they will pay the children’s school fees and take care of them, but this is not the case. They force the children to work hard labor for long hours and they are often mistreated and ill fed.

IOM has negotiated the return of many of the children not only in this village, but many other on the coast. The children and their families work with IOM for at least 2.5 years to assure the children have counseling and can be reintegrated and to spread awareness to the community and parents. The chief said that formerly men would come and take many children, now if they try to convince parents to send their children with them, the villagers laugh at them and send them off.

As Mary introduced us to one of the school teachers, he explained that over 60 of the students at the school had been trafficked, but thanks to the work of Eric and the others at IOM they have returned to the community and many are now at the top of their class.

However, there are still many children from Immuna and many other areas, which have not been returned to their homes. The IOM staff has developed a sponsorship program to provide sustainable support for the children who have already been rescued so that once they can have long-term support and IOM can continue to help more children.

Sarah and four other In-the-Field Travelers are currently in Ghana before they are making their way to Mali and Burkina Faso. They'll be visiting more than 30 GlobalGiving projects in the next month. Follow their adventures at http://itfwa.wordpress.com/.

Combating Child Trafficking in Ghana

Eric Peasah — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:39:34 GMT

A story on a rescued child with a physical challenge with the vision receiving medical attention and reintegrated children who have been enrolled in schools and also benefitted from school supplies.

Attachments:

Update_for_Global_Giving_.doc (DOC)

36 Trafficked Children Rescued in 2009 Return Home

Jennifer Asuako — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:40:50 GMT

Rescued Children with Staff of IOM and Others

TRAFFICKED CHILDREN RESCUED IN 2009 RETURN HOME

All the 36 children rescued in February and March this year (2009) were successfully reunited with their families after the 15th of May, 2009 and have begun their reintegration process. May 15th of every year is the International Day as declared by The United Nations General Assembly. This year’s International Day of the Family, fell on Friday, 15 May, 2009. The theme chosen for this year’s celebration of the day is Mothers and Families: Challenges in a Changing World. IOM Accra used the day to highlight the importance of mothers and families in promoting and protecting the rights and development of children. In celebrating the day, IOM Accra focused on making mothers and families understand that trafficking children is not the solution to the challenges they encounter in a changing world. Several stakeholders from governmental and non-governmental agencies were present and presentation in recognition of this year’s celebration.

Before reuniting with their families, the children underwent a comprehensive rehabilitation program with support from health professionals, social workers, psychologist and educators in both the private and public sectors. They also had access to psychosocial counseling designed specifically to enable them to heal from the trauma of their ordeal. At the beginning of their rehabilitation, the children received medical evaluation and were treated for several diseases including all kinds of sores in their mouths and on their bodies’ bilharzias, malaria, anemia and various skin diseases among others. Two children who were diagnosed of having sickle cell anemia were referred for further assessment at specialist hospitals.

STORY OF ANDREWS KWEITSU Andrew Kwetsu was also among the 36 children rescued by IOM, Ghana this year. Andrews who hails from Ningo in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana was living with the maternal grandmother when the parents were deceased. A few years after however, the paternal grandmother came for him under the pretense of sending him to school but instead gave him to a fisherman in Kete-Krachi to engage him in fishing.

At Kete-Krachi, Andrews goes to fishing with his master and other trafficked children from 4:00am till noon and again in the afternoon till late at night. His duties during fishing included paddling the canoe, scooping water from the canoe, diving under water to disentangle stuck nets from tree stumps and pulling fishing nets.

Before his rescue, he was found to be physically challenged at his spinal chord. The physical challenge was alleged to have resulted from a fall he suffered during a fishing expedition. He was said to have slipped in the canoe, falling and in the process landing with his spine on the edge of the canoe.

According to Andy, his master failed to send him to the hospital to receive medical attention, but rather offered him paracetamol and asked him to stay home for a couple of days to recuperate. According to him, the affected spine started bending, making it difficult for him to stand straight. Presently, Andrews cannot stand upright for a period beyond two minutes. He usually experiences pain, numbness or tingling in the legs and feet in addition to pain in the back.

The physical challenge has predisposed him to mockery and ridicule by some of his peers. He cannot get involve himself with other friends to play soccer, the game he likes best. Notwithstanding the physical and health challenge, he was asked to resume fishing after a month.

Andrews who has been united with his maternal grandmother (who would not stop crying from the first day she set her gaze on him) has been enrolled in school. He hopes to be an auto mechanic in the future.

IOM has gone a step further to send Andrews to the hospital for treatment. After initial assessments on him by a spine specialist, which cost $1500 in total, he was diagnosed of tuberculosis (TB) of the spine contrary to what we were made to believe when he was rescued. According to the Doctor, the TB which was left untreated is what has resulted in the bending of his spine. Andrews has since been put on TB treatment after a series of test.

With the support of some individuals and groups such as Global Giving, IOM was able to deposit half of the amount of $5000 required for his surgery, enabling him to undergo the surgery to correct his spine. The surgery which was done a month ago was successful and he is currently being taken through a post surgery care which is going to last for the next five months. IOM, is currently soliciting for more funds to enable it complete payment for the surgery and also provide for Andrew’s post surgery care. In his own words, Andrews said “I thank all those who supported my surgery; I will cherish their kindness forever”

Andrews with his protuding Back after his surgery

Andrews trying to stand with help after surgery

Rescue 2009 Phase 1 (Part 2)

Eric Peasah — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:11:23 GMT

Nadu, with Eric Peasah and the team that helped to rescue her

These are just a few additional photos of the kids rescued in Phase 1 of the February rescue mission.

Kids rescued in Phase 1 at the transit camp

Kids at the transit camp having a meal together

Rescue Mission 2009 - Phase 1

Eric Peasah — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:06:11 GMT

Nadu, distressed and crying during negotiations

February 2009

On February 7th, after months of preparation and information gathering, we were at last prepared to begin Phase 1 of the first child rescue mission of 2009. In collaboration with our NGO partners, we hoped to rescue 35 to 40 children from the villages surrounding Yeji and Kete Krachi, both located on Lake Volta. For Phase 1, we worked with our local NGO partner from Kete Krachi, PACODEP, to identify 12 children that were ready to be released. PACODEP, along with the local volunteers from the surrounding villages and islands, had prepared a list of 12 children who could be released in this phase of the rescue mission. Despite extensive preparation leading up to the rescue mission, when we arrived in the communities, their stories and attitudes had changed and some fishermen were no longer willing to release the trafficked children living with them. Each day was spent in difficult negotiations with the fishermen in an effort to convince them to voluntarily release the children. In the end we were able to negotiate for the release of 12 children, only 2 of which were on our initial list for this phase of the rescue mission. The remaining 10 could not be rescued, as their masters were still not willing to release them. The next phase will take place in the communities surrounding Yeji, where we hope to rescue another 12 children. For Phase 3 we will return to the Kete Krachi area and in Phase 4 we will complete our mission in Yeji.

Akwetey’s Story: Released at Last

Akwetey, a boy who by this time is well known to IOM and our NGO partners, has been on our list of trafficked children living in Lala for some time now, and was even featured in a documentary we filmed with the help of the Christian Coalition last year. Three years ago we identified him in the village of Lala, but for the past three years his master has refused to release him. Last year, IOM staff was able to identify Akwetey’s mother, who is living in a community in the Greater Accra Region. In his mother’s community, most of the villagers believed that Akwetey had been missing for the past 6 years. However, we learned that Akwetey had been trafficked 6 times in his short life, journeying as far as Benin and Cote d’Ivoire. His mother, faced with severe economic hardship, had resorted to trafficking him, each time for various sums of money. When we met Akwetey’s mother, we showed her the footage of him working in the fishing boats on the lake. Upon seeing the condition of her son and the work he was forced to perform, she was filled with shame and regret and asked the IOM staff to help secure Akwetey’s release. We returned to Lala this year and when we explained that Akwetey’s mother had asked that he be released and returned to her care, the fisherman at long last agreed. Akwetey will travel with us to Accra, where he will spend time in the transition home in Madina. When he returns to his mother’s community, he and his mother will be monitored and receive the necessary support to enable Akwetey to succeed.

Nadu’s Story: When Peaceful Negotiations Fail

A year ago, while our team was conducting an education campaign in Botianor, a small fishing community in the Greater Accra Region, we were approached by a woman named Esi (A.C). She had come to us for help. She explained that over five years ago her sister had come for her daughter Nadu and taken her to a small island on Lake Volta, somewhere near the town of Kete Krachi. She told our team that she had pleaded with her sister and insisted that the child be returned to her, but that her sister had continuously refused. Upon receiving this information, the IOM staff contacted PACODEP, our NGO partner in the Kete Krachi area. The staff from PACODEP, with the help of the local volunteers, was able to locate Nadu in the small island village of Lala.

Nadu was one of the children that we sought to rescue during the first phase of our February 2009 rescue mission. On the second day of our rescue mission we arrived in Lala where we were met by the assembly man for the village, who is also the local volunteer collaborating with PACODEP and IOM. When we approached the home of Nadu’s aunt, we realized immediately that this would be a difficult negotiation. We found Nadu timid and scared, and wearing only a tattered skirt. She would not speak to any of our team members, fearing what might happen if she upset her masters. Although Nadu’s aunt had been informed by the local volunteer and PACODEP that we were coming, she maintained her position that the child would not be released. For over two hours our team spoke with Nadu’s aunt, explaining why we had come for the child, informing her that trafficking children was illegal and that she and her husband could be prosecuted if they did not agree to release Nadu immediately. Nadu’s aunt finally agreed, but stated that she would need to wait for her husband, the master, to return before she could formally hand over Nadu. When he returned and learned of what we had come to do, he became very aggressive and threatened our team with violence. He nearly hit some of the IOM staff, shouting that he would never release the child and that our team had no place on the island of Lala. After many failed attempts to calm him down, we informed the man and his wife that we were left with no alternative and that they would be prosecuted if Nadu was not immediately released. As the sun was going down we were forced to depart the island of Lala, but promised to return with the necessary authorities.

The next time we returned to Lala, we were not alone. Joining us were members of the Army and Navy who had come to escort the man back to Kete Krachi. When we arrived, we did not find Nadu at home and her aunt informed us that her husband was not around. The team members finally located Nadu and helped her to change into the only dress that she owned. She was then led to the boat where she would wait for the rest of the team. In the meantime, with the help of the authorities and the local volunteer, we were able to locate Nadu’s master, who had sought protection from the village chief. We found the man surrounded by many onlookers and clearly intoxicated. He continued with language similar to that of the day before, proclaiming that he was not afraid of anyone, not even the police, army or navy. Upon hearing this, the authorities announced that they would be escorting him back to Kete Krachi. The chief and villagers intervened on his behalf, explaining that he was in no position to travel and assuring us that when he was sober he would present himself to the police station in Kete Krachi. The authorities left the man with the chief and we proceeded to the boat where Nadu and the remaining members of our team were awaiting us. We returned to Kete Krachi with a very confused, disoriented, and nervous Nadu. Within a few short hours, after a bath, a haircut, and a warm meal, Nadu was smiling and playing with the other children.

Kojo’s Story: Struggling For His Freedom and the Cow That Was Promised to His Father

Kojo is a young boy that we met this year, a boy that we are sure to hear more about in the years to come. Seven years ago, Kojo’s father gave him to a farmer under an agreement that in two years Kojo would be released and the father would be given a cow. After two years attending to the cattle on the master’s farm, Kojo approached his master, but was told that the agreement had been for three years, not two. After the three years had passed, the master told him that if his father was to receive the cow, he would need to work an additional two years. After five years of working with the farmer, Kojo learned that his father had died. He spent the next two years working for his master.

With his father gone, there was no one around to argue for his release or to ensure that his family received the cow that he had been traded for. Accepting that his fate was now in his own hands, he escaped the island and journeyed to Kete Krachi where he shared his story with PACODEP and the Police. PACODEP and the police were able to secure his release and locate his older siblings who had been looking for him, but were unable to make the journey to Kete Krachi due to economic constraints. However, this was not enough for Kojo, for he wanted the cow that had been promised to his father. After difficult negotiations, the farmer agreed to give Kojo the cow. While it was suggested that Kojo sell the cow in the area before returning to Accra, he refused saying that the cow would remain with his family. IOM and PACODEP have now arranged for Kojo’s older siblings to journey to Kete Krachi to receive the cow. By seeking out PACODEP’s assistance in Kete Krachi, Kojo was able to secure his own freedom. He is a boy with inspiring strength and drive, who has begun to teach himself how to read and basic arithmetic skills. With the monitoring provided by IOM and our partner NGOs, Kojo will continue his education and hopefully one day will achieve his dream of becoming a mechanic.

Negotiations for Nadu's release w/help of military personnel

Nadu's 1st night at the transit camp with other children

36 Children Rescued in January Return Home

Jennifer Asuako — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:57:23 GMT

All the children singing at the reunification ceremony

All 36 children rescued in January this year (2008) were successfully reunited with their families on the 15th of May, 2008 and began their reintegration process. May 15th is the International Day of the Family and a particular emphasis is placed on the responsibilities of fathers towards their families. Every year, IOM Accra reunites rescued children with their families on this special day in order to highlight the importance of the family in promoting and protecting the rights and development of children.

Several stakeholders from governmental and non-governmental agencies were present at this year’s ceremony, including a representative from the American Embassy.

Before reuniting with their families, the children underwent a comprehensive rehabilitation program with support from health professionals, social workers, psychologists and educators in both the private and public sectors. They also had access to psychosocial counseling designed specifically to enable them to heal from the trauma of their ordeal.

At the beginning of their rehabilitation, the children received medical evaluations and were treated for several diseases including all kinds of sores in their mouths and on their bodies, bilharzias, malaria, anemia, and various skin diseases among others. Two of the children who had severe physical disabilities resulting from their trafficking experience were referred for further assessment at the general hospitals. One of these children suffers from a severe eye injury, while the other struggles with a badly injured spine. The first boy is undergoing treatment under the care of an eye specialist, while the second will have to have a complicated surgery in order to correct his spine.

We are currently soliciting financial support from individuals to help finance his surgery.

All 36 children rescued this year have been placed in schools in the 22 respective communities they come from. All of the children are happy to be able to go to school. One boy, Kojo Tawiah, is especially thrilled about this as he says he has always dreamt of the opportunity to study.

Currently, all 30 parents/guardians of the 36 rescued children are being assessed by social workers in order to enable IOM to support them with Micro-credit assistance.

A mother reuniting with her four rescued children at the ceremon

Kojo Tawiah looking happy to be in school

January 2008 Rescue Mission

Slava Madorsky — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:20:18 GMT

Kwadzo Tawia having fun at the rehabilitation center during a Fe

The Counter Trafficking Unit of IOM’s Mission in Ghana rescued a group of 36 children from fishing villages in Krete-Krachi in the Lake Volta Region of Ghana this month, bringing the total of trafficked children rescued by IOM to 648. IOM’s partner NGO, Partners in Community Development Programs conducted research in Kete-Krachi and its island communities in preparation for the rescue mission and registered the children and the fishermen.

Throughout 2007, IOM identified and registered 424 trafficked children working for 800 fishermen on five islands around Kete-Krachi. Although all of these children are available for rescue, IOM’s resources only allowed for 36 to be rescued at this time. IOM usually conducts rescue missions on an annual basis, but has the capacity to rescue at least 50 children every six months if the necessary funds are made available. The children who are not rescued are under constant monitoring, and the fishermen continue to receive education on the use of children for this dangerous type of work. “We can only hope that this increased awareness will translate into better working conditions for the children waiting to be rescued,” explains Eric Peasah, IOM’s Counter Trafficking Project Manager. “These children need our help as soon as possible, so we are continuing our appeal for funding to rescue all of them.”

This latest IOM rescue mission was carried out from 19 to 22 January with financial support from the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) and more than 1,000 private donors.

The children were rescued in two groups and sent to the Department of Social Welfare’s rehabilitation centre in Accra. The first group of 24 children arrived at the center on 23 January, while the second group of 12 arrived at the end of January, as they were rescued from different locations. At the rehabilitation center, the children will be medically screened and treated as needed, and will undergo a comprehensive rehabilitation program with support from health professionals, social workers, psychologists and educators. They will also have access to psychosocial counseling to enable them to heal from the trauma of being trafficked. The rescued children will receive rehabilitation assistance until 15 May when they will be reunited with their families to start their reintegration process.

Among the trafficked children rescued this time is 12 year old Kwadzo who hails from Dogo, a small community near Apam in the Central Region. Kwadzo had been working in the fishing industry for five years. When he was seven years old, Kwadzo’s father took him to Abidjan in Cote D’Ivoire, where he was given to a fisherman to work for a period of two years. According to Kwadzo, during his stay in Abidjan he went fishing for long hours, ate only once a day, and was often mistreated. After more than two years, his father brought him back to Dogo. Kwadzo’s grandmother pleaded with the father to send the boy to school but instead he took him to Kete-Krachi where he was handed over to a fisherman on Lake Volta.

Kwadzo told IOM that his life in Kete-Krachi was even more difficult than in Abidjan because he often had to dive to the bottom of the lake to disentangle nets that were caught on tree stumps, a dangerous chore that he was not required to do in Abidjan.

Kwadzo, was not on the list of children to be rescued this year, but on 20 January, while on the lake around 5:30am, IOM staff saw a fisherman working with a boy. The boy was diving in and out of the water and shivering from the cold. The IOM staff approached the fisherman and attempted to negotiate Kwadzo’s release, but the fisherman refused. IOM reported the incident to the Chief of the village, who has received awareness training and is an advocate of the IOM project. The father and the fisherman begrudgingly released him the next day.

Kwadzo will be sent to live with his mother and will now have the opportunity to go to school. He says he is very happy IOM came to his rescue and he wants to go to school so he can become either a driver or a football player.

Children at work (IOM Accra, 2007)