A local Ghanaian anti-slavery organization, Challenging Heights, has rescued 11 more children from Lake Volta. The children rescued are made up of 9 males, and 2 females.

According to the NGO, the children who are aged between the ages of eight (8), and sixteen (16) have worked as child fishermen for several years without attending school and are subjected to various forms of abuse.

The latest rescue adds to the over 1,700 boys and girls that the organization has rescued from slavery in the fishing communities in Ghana since its establishment in 2003.

Challenging Heights which recently released a comprehensive report on child labor, says it remains resolute in its fight against child labour exploitations, especially, in the fishing industry in Ghana.

The report, titled “Hidden in Plain Sight: A report on child labor in the fishing industry of Ghana”, concludes that 60% of all children on Lake Volta are child laborers.

President of the organization, James Kofi Annan, indicated that globally it is estimated that there are over 40million human beings caught up in slavery, and the slave traders generate over $50 billion annually.

According to him, in Ghana, the Global Slavery Index put the number of people in slavery at 133,000 (Walk Free Foundation, 2018).

This current rescue contributes towards reducing the problem of child labor on Lake Volta.

James Kofi Annan thanked the Ghana Police Service, the Department of Social Welfare, and the Ghana Navy, for their leadership and support in bringing freedom to the children.

Challenging Heights is a local Ghanaian antislavery organization with the long-term goal of safeguarding the rights of children to education, particularly those affected by human trafficking and modern slavery.