0:00:06 > 0:00:12Ghana's biggest fishing ground, Lake Volta, holds a dark secret.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15Tens of thousands of children who work on its waters have been
0:00:15 > 0:00:20trafficked into a life of forced labour.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30Given up by poor families on the promise of a better life.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40Many face violence, and some even die on the job.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43He's a child, but he's no longer a child.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47He's been through things us as adults haven't been through.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50The government has pledged to eradicate this illegal practice.
0:00:50 > 0:00:55There's so many children who could be rescued and could be
0:00:55 > 0:00:57put into this facility, but at the moment there's
0:00:57 > 0:00:58no-one in here.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01With the numbers dramatically on the rise, why are so many
0:01:01 > 0:01:21children still taken and forced to work like slaves?
0:01:21 > 0:01:25Yeji, a small town on the banks of Lake Volta,
0:01:25 > 0:01:30in the centre of Ghana.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32Around 35,000 people live here and the main source
0:01:32 > 0:01:38of income is fishing.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41It's one of Ghana's biggest industries, but the trade relies
0:01:41 > 0:01:47on an army of children - some as young as four or five.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51Dampson was ten when he was brought to work on the lake.
0:01:51 > 0:01:56His mother was tricked into giving him up to a trafficker.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09What were they making you do?
0:02:21 > 0:02:25There are 21,000 like Dampson on Lake Volta alone,
0:02:26 > 0:02:28doing dangerous work, like diving to untangle nets,
0:02:28 > 0:02:32and fishing alone.
0:02:32 > 0:02:38Buying and selling children is big business here.
0:02:38 > 0:02:39They're trafficked into forced labour -
0:02:39 > 0:02:44or what charities would describe as slavery.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47It's early morning here in Yeji and we're on our way
0:02:47 > 0:02:52to the river bank.
0:02:52 > 0:02:57We have very little idea what to expect when we get out there.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01Today, I'm joining a rescue team from the charity Challenging
0:03:01 > 0:03:03Heights.
0:03:03 > 0:03:04Hello, nice to meet you.
0:03:04 > 0:03:10They've been notified about some children who are being held.
0:03:18 > 0:03:23Can you talk us through where we're going today.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26We're rescuing two boys today and one is in this community.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29We'll manoeuvre our way through the tree stumps to get
0:03:29 > 0:03:31to the community where the victim is.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35The team can only afford two trips to the lake a year,
0:03:35 > 0:03:39so they target specific children for rescue.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41They get tip-offs from the community and many parents ask
0:03:42 > 0:03:46for help to bring their children home.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49It takes a lot of resources to rescue a kid.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53We don't give up, we get so much joy from one less kid suffering on Lake
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Volta.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03But their task is huge.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07Last year, Ghana was put on an international watch list
0:04:07 > 0:04:10after a dramatic rise in trafficking.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13We keep seeing these boats, as we're going past,
0:04:13 > 0:04:20with children in them.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23We're not quite sure if these kids are with their parents,
0:04:23 > 0:04:25or they've actually been taken away by the fishermen.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28It's not uncommon for children to work for their families.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30Even when they're meant to be at school.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32The team give advice to a passing fisherman.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40Tell me what you're doing here today.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48How will they help you today?
0:04:56 > 0:04:59These kids, from what they are saying, they have not been
0:04:59 > 0:05:02trafficked, but then, they are being forced to work.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05We just have to advise the parents about the risk the children
0:05:05 > 0:05:08are going through, being on the lake.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12There's little the charity can do about children like these.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15They concentrate on the ones who have been taken from their homes
0:05:15 > 0:05:20and sold to fishermen.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26After a couple of hours on the lake, we reach our destination.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29Steven goes ahead to track down the man we're looking for.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32We have a long walk.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35The fishermen often live miles from any roads.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37He was telling us we should spot two isolated houses -
0:05:45 > 0:05:46OK.
0:05:46 > 0:05:47In that far corner there.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49The fisherman has agreed to talk.
0:05:49 > 0:05:54He says he lives here with his wife and there are several children here.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16The children we're looking for are here, but the fisherman
0:06:16 > 0:06:19is reluctant to hand them over.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30Word has spread and more villagers want to get involved.
0:06:30 > 0:06:38The fisherman has finally given in, but there's an unexpected hitch.
0:06:50 > 0:06:57The child doesn't want to go?
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Eventually, the child obeys his master and we're able
0:07:09 > 0:07:12to leave with both boys.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18But it's not the triumphant rescue I was expecting.
0:07:18 > 0:07:24The fisherman is unlikely to face prosecution
0:07:24 > 0:07:26and the boys seem bewildered.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29This must be quite nerve wracking and frightening for these children
0:07:29 > 0:07:30because they don't know who you are.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34You've just turned up in their homes and then suddenly you're
0:07:34 > 0:07:35taking them away.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53After several years in captivity, these boys are on their way
0:07:53 > 0:07:57to freedom.
0:07:57 > 0:08:06But they don't know who to trust.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15Straight after being rescued, the children are taken
0:08:16 > 0:08:19to the charity's temporary shelter, outside Yeji.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23When I come to visit, I'm pleased to see happy faces here.
0:08:25 > 0:08:26Thank you.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29Good to see you.
0:08:29 > 0:08:34So we've got all of these kids who were rescued.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46This is the start of the process of finding their families.
0:08:48 > 0:08:52Do they know where they've come from and what their names are,
0:08:52 > 0:08:54who their parents are?
0:09:18 > 0:09:20While they're here, they'll get smartened up -
0:09:20 > 0:09:23hair trimmed, nails cut and any injuries treated.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25Hello.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32I'm not hurting you?
0:09:32 > 0:09:33He doesn't have a nail.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36What's happened to your leg?
0:09:38 > 0:09:43What were you doing when your leg hit the boat?
0:10:02 > 0:10:04How bad can it get when they're doing this job?
0:10:42 > 0:10:48Bye.
0:10:48 > 0:10:50Before they can move the children from Yeji,
0:10:51 > 0:10:56the charity needs authorisation from the police.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10These are the names we have rescued, so we are taking them
0:11:10 > 0:11:11back for rehabilitation.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13After that we need to find their parents.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17Ghana has anti-trafficking legislation for the police
0:11:17 > 0:11:21to refer to.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23The authorisation is given to take the children.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37This really is very strange.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39We've told the police we have these children.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42They've given us approval to take them away.
0:11:42 > 0:11:48They're clearly aware this goes on in their communities,
0:11:48 > 0:11:50but they're not doing anything about it.
0:11:50 > 0:11:55Last year, there were no convictions.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58A group of rescued children are preparing to start
0:11:58 > 0:12:05their new life after years of forced labour on Lake Volta.
0:12:28 > 0:12:37It was founded in 2007 by James Kofi Annan.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39Definitely nice to see these children playing.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42If you look at when they were rescued and compare to now,
0:12:42 > 0:12:50you can see that freedom has come.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53The shelter is very close to my heart.
0:12:53 > 0:13:00For seven years, I worked on that lake as a fisher boy.
0:13:00 > 0:13:07Every time I made a mistake, I was badly beaten.
0:13:07 > 0:13:12So that was a life of seven cumulative years of slavery.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15I see myself in the eyes of these children.
0:13:15 > 0:13:18I see these children in my own eyes.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21So it means a lot to me.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25It takes many months to prepare the children for family life again.
0:13:25 > 0:13:30Some have been away from their homes for years.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32These are their rooms.
0:13:32 > 0:13:33These are their rooms.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35Do you see something missing here?
0:13:35 > 0:13:36Do you see something missing here?
0:13:36 > 0:13:37There's no pillow.
0:13:37 > 0:13:38There's no pillow, yeah.
0:13:38 > 0:13:39Why is that?
0:13:39 > 0:13:40Deliberately.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43Most of these children, when they go home, they don't even
0:13:43 > 0:13:44have beds to sleep on.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47We decided OK, no pillow, so that the experience
0:13:47 > 0:13:56here is similar to when they go home.
0:13:56 > 0:13:5811-year-old Boni has been at the shelter for more
0:13:58 > 0:14:09than six months.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12His parents are waiting for him to come home.
0:14:12 > 0:14:12What's his name?
0:14:12 > 0:14:16I want to know how he feels about returning to his family.
0:14:16 > 0:14:17Do you miss your mum and dad?
0:14:17 > 0:14:19Have you seen them yet?
0:14:19 > 0:14:21What did you say to your mum and dad?
0:14:32 > 0:14:34I like the way you dance.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36I even took a video of it.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38Let me show you. Look.
0:14:50 > 0:14:51You're the best dancer in the room.
0:15:00 > 0:15:05Boni's parents live in a poor, rural neighbourhood.
0:15:06 > 0:15:11Hello, nice to see you.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13They have five children.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16His father was a fisherman until he became too ill to work.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20His mother couldn't cope on her own.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24Were you given money initially when he was taken?
0:15:43 > 0:15:45Were you given money initially when he was taken?
0:15:50 > 0:15:53Many poor Ghanaians send their children away to richer
0:15:53 > 0:15:57relatives or people offering to teach them a trade.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00Boni's mother thought she was sending him to a better life
0:16:00 > 0:16:00with her sister.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04Was it very emotional for you when you saw him
0:16:04 > 0:16:04for the first time?
0:16:21 > 0:16:25So what will happen to Boni when he comes back?
0:16:41 > 0:16:45Education is free in Ghana up to the age of 15.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49But many parents still don't send their children,
0:16:49 > 0:16:52because they can't afford the books and uniforms.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04We invite one of you to come.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07Dampson was rescued after four years of forced labour on Lake Volta.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10He's now back at school.
0:17:10 > 0:17:16CHEERING
0:17:17 > 0:17:20His classmates call him "soldier" because of what he's been through.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24He's been given counselling for the trauma he's suffered.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56After he was rescued, Dampson was taken in by his aunt.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01His mother had died while he was still in captivity.
0:18:19 > 0:18:26He wants to show me the room he shared with his mother.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30But it's too painful to set foot inside.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38Reintegrating rescued children back into their homes
0:18:38 > 0:18:39is not always successful.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42They come from poor families who sometimes can't or won't
0:18:42 > 0:18:47take them back.
0:18:50 > 0:18:59Ghana has earned international praise for its efforts
0:18:59 > 0:19:04to fight child labour.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06But the problem is getting worse, not better.
0:19:06 > 0:19:09There are two government-run shelters to house trafficked
0:19:09 > 0:19:11children, but when I visit one, it seems deserted.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15There are kids here at this shelter, but I'm being told that none of them
0:19:15 > 0:19:16have been trafficked.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20There's so many children in Yeji who could be rescued and could be
0:19:20 > 0:19:22put into this facility, but at the moment, there's
0:19:22 > 0:19:24no-one in here.
0:19:29 > 0:19:34We need the government to commit resources
0:19:34 > 0:19:39into freeing these children.
0:19:39 > 0:19:45These are not hidden situation.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48You have an anti-human trafficking unit of Ghana Police Service,
0:19:48 > 0:19:49which is great.
0:19:49 > 0:19:50But they don't have resource.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53They don't even have a boat to rescue children.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56So why is the government doing so little?
0:19:56 > 0:19:58Hello, how are you?
0:19:58 > 0:20:00Fine, thank you.
0:20:00 > 0:20:01Thanks for having me.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03You're welcome.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06You're aware there's this trafficking that goes
0:20:06 > 0:20:08on in the country, but you don't have any rescue missions
0:20:08 > 0:20:12or operations to prevent this from taking place.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14The government is doing a lot.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18What we do is co-ordinate, what we do is train our district
0:20:18 > 0:20:21functionaries to monitor whatever is going on and report.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25The police are there.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28They are doing all that they can to rescue the children.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31The police are not rescuing the children.
0:20:31 > 0:20:32They are not? No.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36The challenge is also the shelters, where to keep the children.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39The challenge is also the shelters, where to keep the children.
0:20:39 > 0:20:39They're not well resourced.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42So, sometimes putting the children in those shelters sometimes even
0:20:42 > 0:20:49looks worse than if they leave them or give them to NGOs.
0:20:55 > 0:20:59It's left to charities like Challenging Heights
0:20:59 > 0:21:05to rescue these children.
0:21:05 > 0:21:0614-year-old Dampson is doing well.
0:21:06 > 0:21:14He's no longer living with his aunt and has moved in with his dad.
0:21:14 > 0:21:15He's a good boy?
0:21:15 > 0:21:18A good boy.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45It's still a struggle, but now Dampson has a place
0:21:45 > 0:21:47he can call home.
0:21:47 > 0:21:48Where do you sleep?
0:21:58 > 0:22:00Is it nice for you to finally be home?
0:22:16 > 0:22:26Dampson has the chance of a bright future, unlike the thousands
0:22:26 > 0:22:35of children still trapped in slave labour on Lake Volta.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38For now, their only hope lies in the small charities prepared
0:22:38 > 0:22:39to do battle on their behalf.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43I want to see a Ghana where every child has the capacity to dream
0:22:43 > 0:22:44about his or her future.
0:22:44 > 0:22:52I want to see justice for every child that was once enslaved.
0:23:19 > 0:23:20Hello there.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23Compared with some other parts of Europe our weather
0:23:23 > 0:23:24is very quiet indeed.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27We had some rain and drizzle pushing southwards during the day yesterday.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30Some breaks in the cloud later, perhaps in Scotland,