Eight children have been brought to safety from slavery in Ghana

These children had been forced to work in the fishing industry on Lake Volta – a notoriously dangerous industry for children, who are at constant risk of drowning as they dive deep into the lake to untangle nets.

But since the launch of a new boat patrol unit at the end of last year, IJM has worked with police to bring more children to safety. The youngest child was only nine years old. One of the children, 12-year-old Joojo (pseudonym), told us he was, “made to do the work of adults.” Today, he is free to be a child.

Thanks to your support, IJM has already helped bring over 420 children like Joojo to safety from slavery on Lake Volta. But we won’t stop there.

This new boat patrol means that it will be much easier to investigate cases of child trafficking. For the first time, there’s now an active law enforcement presence on Lake Volta, giving access to previously cut-off banks and islands where trafficked children might be hidden.

We’re one step closer to stopping child trafficking in Ghana. Together, we can bring more children like Joojo to safety from slavery on Lake Volta.