title: Stories from Lake Volta: the lived experiences of trafficked children in Ghana.
abstract: Child trafficking is one of the worst forms of child maltreatment and is often difficult to recognize when it happens intra-country. This paper presents the narratives of children on their experiences as victims of trafficking in fishing communities along the Volta Lake in the Volta region of Ghana. The narratives were co-constructed with the children through child-friendly participatory approaches which involved drawings, writing, and in-depth interviews. The stories reflect the magnitude of maltreatment trafficked children suffer, which ranges from physical to psychological and emotional. The authors recommend commitment by the government to the implementation of the Human Trafficking Act to deter child traffickers. Further studies on the living conditions of rescued children and the need to implement strategies to prevent re-trafficking are suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, University of Ghana, PO Box LG419, Legon, Ghana.
authors.forename: Emma Seyram
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Hamenoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, University of Ghana, PO Box LG419, Legon, Ghana.
authors.forename: Cynthia Akorfa
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Sottie
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D064410:Human Trafficking / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Child maltreatment; Child trafficking; Ghana; Human trafficking; Intra-country trafficking; Slavery