The trafficked Maryam
Maryam, a young girl trafficked from Niger to Ghana for the purpose of street begging, recently escaped from the man she identified as her master.
After becoming separated from her group near the Kumasi Central Mosque, she was discovered at the Aboabo bus stop by a local resident, Sadia Maswud, who noticed the child following her.
Upon questioning, Maryam revealed that she had been brought to Kumasi to beg and was attempting to flee to avoid further abuse. She displayed visible bruises on her face and back, which she stated were inflicted by her master as punishment for failing to meet daily begging quotas. Maryam further stated that her parents in Niger are aware of her situation in Ghana. She is currently being provided shelter by Ms. Maswud’s family in Aboabo Extension.
This case highlights the ongoing challenges regarding child trafficking in West Africa. Despite recent security operations by the Ghana Immigration Service and the Police Service to dismantle exploitation rings, vulnerable children continue to be subjected to such inhumane treatment. We are left to question the current measures in place to protect these children, the whereabouts of the perpetrators, and the necessary government actions required to effectively eradicate the practice of forced begging.
Story Courtesy Hamza TV