VZCZCXRO3949
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHAR #1003 2181607
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 051607Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY ACCRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6831
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS ACCRA 001003 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AF/W FOR DIRECTOR 
IN GTIP FOR AMBASSADOR LAGON 
IN GTIP FOR VERONICA ZEITLIN 
AF/RSA FOR LINDA MUNCY 
IN NIAMEY FOR RICHARD ROBERS 
IN LOME FOR SUSAN WALKE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB KCRM KWMN PRUM PREF GH
SUBJECT: GHANA TIP CASE UPDATE 
 
REF: SECSTATE 77742 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: An EMBOFF visited northern Ghana July 31 to 
observe conditions of children rescued in July 17 raid. The 
children are in generally good condition, but resources for 
their continued welfare are limited. The Koranic teacher 
arrested for holding the children is now out on bail. The 
authorities are attempting to ascertain the fitness of the 
parents before releasing the children. 
 
¶2. (SBU) An EMBOFF traveled July 31 to Tamale, in Ghana's 
Northern Region, to investigate further the case of the 
fifteen rescued children.  The children range in age from 
approximately five to fifteen.  They are currently staying at 
a shelter operated by the Department of Social Welfare, 
located about twenty kilometers from Tamale. At the time of 
the visit, the children were being cared for by a social 
worker and cook.  An inspection of the house found it to be 
orderly and reasonably clean. Water is collected from roof 
drainage into two tanks. There are some issues involving 
sanitation. The children have beds and have been issued some 
used clothing.  The shelter is near a government clinic where 
the children have been receiving limited medical attention. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The children are thin but are gaining weight.  One 
is being treated for malaria, and two others for ring worm. 
The social worker reported to EMBOFF that the children have 
low levels of trust and limited social skills. When the 
EMBOFF asked, the children said they wanted to return to 
their parents.  Two of the children are Togolese, one from 
Niger, with the rest from Ghana.  The children have not been 
attending school, although they have received training in the 
Koran, and one of the older children has memorized long 
verses.  The children are now receiving some instruction. The 
social worker told EMBOFF that one of the children might be 
the daughter of the arrested teacher. 
 
¶4. (SBU) EMBOFF met with the Deputy Regional Police 
Superintendent.  The teacher is now out on bail, but is 
required to report to the police at regular intervals.  The 
Police Service and Social Welfare Department are attempting 
to screen the parents before releasing the children, to 
determine why the parents gave the children to the teacher. 
(Note: The practice of parents handing over children to 
relatives or others to use for labor, sometimes in return for 
cash, does occur in Ghana, especially within economically 
stretched families.  End Note).  According to the Deputy 
Superintendent, this process could take weeks or months. 
 
¶5. (SBU) CDA Sue K. Brown has been able to secure funding to 
maintain the children for a limited time.  A local 
businessman has agreed to provide funding for one month's 
support for the children, 2,000 Ghana cedis, or approximately 
$1,800.  Additional funding may be possible if needed,  The 
funds will be directed through an NGO, the Enslavement 
Prevention Alliance of West Africa, which is currently 
providing support for the children.  CDA Brown also spoke 
with the Special Advisor to President Kufuor, Ms. 
Chinery-Hesse, who agreed to contact the Ministry of Women 
and Children regarding the case. 
 
¶6. (SBU)  POLOFF spoke with Patience Quaye of the CID about 
the case. She believes that the teacher should not have been 
released on bail, under Ghanaian law.  Quaye said that the 
plan is to eventually bring the children to Accra.  Quaye has 
met with the Public Prosecutor concerning the teacher. She 
plans to meet with the local IOM office later this week. 
 
¶7. (U) Quaye is now dealing with four child rescue cases, 
involving respectively 12, 15, 155 and 15 children (the 
Tamale case).  The case involving 155 children was reported 
in the August 4 media.  The children were being transported 
from Ghana's Central Region in four fifteen mini-vans to Cote 
d'Ivoire, where they were expected to work in the fishing and 
agriculture sectors. The four adult drivers were arrested. 
One of the other cased involved the transport of Togolese 
children to CDI to work in the cocoa sector. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Comment.  With four major child rescues in the past 
month, the Ghana Police Service is demonstrating a commitment 
to countering trafficking in persons.  The problem, as 
demonstrated by the Tamale case, is that the government has 
not provided the necessary social service resources to 
adequately provide for victims' welfare. We will continue to 
monitor and report on this matter.  End Comment. 
BROWN