By IOM Ghana | IOM Ghana Team
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Ghana, working in close collaboration with Ghana’s Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), organized the safe return of 13 child survivors of trafficking to their home country of Côte d’Ivoire in March 2021.
The boys, aged 9 to 19, were brought to Ghana from Côte d’Ivoire under the pretext of studying the Quran, only to be exploited as farm workers in Ghana’s Volta Region for up to ten years. The Ghana Police Service (GPS) undertook the rescue in close partnership with Free the Slaves, an international non-governmental organization (NGO). One alleged trafficker has been arrested and is being prosecuted.
Following the rescue mission, the boys were referred to a shelter for child victims under the auspices of the MoGCSP in Accra. They received counseling, medical screening, and further rehabilitation assistance. Their return flights, including the purchase of tickets, clothing, medical screening and COVID-19 tests, were also provided.
Upon arrival in Abidjan, the children were welcomed by their families, who had been traced by IOM Côte d’Ivoire and national authorities. The children and their families will continue to receive reintegration support in the framework of IOM prevention and protection activities.
IOM looks forward to your continued support to enable logistical support to be provided during the rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration of child survivors of trafficking.
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