Forced LaborArchive 2008–2016

Forced Labor in West Africa (2009)

A forced labor case from 2009 in West Africa, Ghana.

This page describes exploitation and abuse. Need to report something? How to report →

Documented on the original SlaveryMap (2008–2016). We don’t have a verifiable source on file yet. Know one?

What happened

as a result of the investagation 54 child slaves, 7 different nationalities, ages varied from 11- 16 and worked 12 hour days with no pay or education.

Response and intervention

operation "Bia" was run by Interpol regional bureau in Abidjan in conjuction with the Ghana and Cote d'Ivorie police departments.

Nearby cases

All 37 in Ghana →

Child Labor2009

Central Region, Ghana, 2009

Ghana GH

A man told the victim's parents he would be involved in his successful sales business. He sold the victim to fishers on Lake Volta, who enslaved him for 8 years From 4 to 8 a.m., he pulled the nets into the boat and unloaded the fish to the riverside. Then spent the day mending nets to prepare for more fishing in the afternoon. First meal of the day was eaten in the afternoon, and the second and last one just before bed. He was frequently beaten, other times he was punished by having the fishermen steer the boat away, forcing him to swim a long distance to catch up with them. Web address(es) of reports www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY .SSLpage.aspx?pid=378&srcid=248

Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016

Child Labor2009

Volta Region, Ghana, 2009

Ghana GH

Many of the children were sold or given into slavery as fishers and divers when they were too young to remember, and have done it all their lives, for at least the past 15 years. They were recruited from poor families who felt themselves incapable of providing for their children.

1 sourceArchive 2008–2016

Child Labor2010

Central Region, Ghana, 2010

Ghana GH

Two men were driving 118 children from Akumfi Ekupoanu in Ghana's Central Region. They were intercepted at Half-Assim in the Western Region, heading west.

Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016