Saving Children Sold Into Slavery in Ghana

Nine (9) year old Paa Kwesi was rescued by IOM in 2011 and has since been reintegrated with his father in a community in the Central region of Ghana.

Paa Kwesi was living with both parents in a fishing community in a fishing district of Ghana. He was just three (3) years when his father left the family and never returned. according to his father, he had to leave his family when his fishing business collapse and it became very difficult to feed his family. Paa Kwesi's mother took care of him on her own until she remarried and had to move to her husband at a mining town in the ashanti Region of Ghana. As she did not want the presence of her son to create any problems in her new marriage, she gave out Paa to a fisherman for a fee when he was just six (6) years old; he had been with the fisherman for three years until his rescue.

While with the fisherman, Paa Kwesi's usual day started at 5am and ended at 8pm. His tasks included paddling and taking water out of the canoe. He was fed only twice a day and said he felt very tired at the end of each day.

Paa whose growth looks stunted as a result of the physical pressure he was put through at a young age of six, is very happy he was rescued by the IOM team. He is currently in school (Kindergaten I) in the Central Region of Ghana; where he is performing academically well, although he had a little difficulty from the beginning.

Paa is very happy now and almost always wears a smile. His interpersonal relationship with his class mates and family members has greatly improved. it is heartwarming to see him progress from the quite and withdrawn child rescued a year ago to a very happy and open child. All these were achieved with the support of your generous donations. He would however need your continuous supports to enable him achieve his dream of becoming a medical doctor in future.