Saving Children Sold Into Slavery in Ghana

Abject poverty and inability to provide for one’s family often lead parents to take extreme actions, including giving their children away to traffickers. In many cases, the parents believe that the child will have a better life with the trafficker, who will provide for them. This is apparent when children are reunited with their families – it elicits both feelings of happiness at having the child back but also of old anxieties about being able to provide for the child.

To address these concerns and to avoid re-trafficking, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Ghana assisted 19 families of rescued children in the Volta and Central Regions to start small businesses. This microbusiness assistance is provided in addition to the regular provision of food, educational and health support for the children, to ensure that families have a regular source of income and are able to become economically independent.

In addition to the financial assistance to set up the businesses, IOM staff gave each household guidance on starting up a business – facilitating understanding of the local market and harnessing any previous experience. Households also received direction on essential accounting and saving principles.

The types of microbusinesses that the families invested in were mainly in the retail sector – with families opting for cold storage businesses for the sale of meat and fish and small convenience stores to sell daily supplies. Impact assessment visits concluded that the businesses have contributed greatly to the households’ abilities to self-sufficient and cover their basic needs.

The families feel less burdened – being able to generate a regular income and provide for their families. As a mother in the Central Region explains: “Thanks to the assistance I have received, now I am able to look after my family more easily”. The assistance provided to the 19 families has directly impacted the lives of 110 people.

IOM Ghana and the families are appreciative of donors’ generous support over the years. IOM will continue to provide assistance to rescued children and their families to empower them to be self-sufficient and to reduce the risk of trafficking and re-trafficking.