In 21 years, Challenging Heights has directly rescued 2,888 children. This was revealed by our Founder, James Kofi Annan, as he shared the raw reality of the fight against child slavery in Ghana in an interview.
James shared his journey from being sold into slavery at age 6 to becoming a manager at Barclays Bank. He left his corporate career after a child on Lake Volta asked him a single, haunting question: “How did you escape?” That question has fueled 21 years of rescue missions.
James highlighted the incredible success of our alumni—survivors who are now teachers in our schools and scholars pursuing MBAs in the United States.
The fight cannot be won by NGOs alone. James issued a direct call to the government to invest 20 million Ghana Cedis annually into state institutions like the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit and Social Welfare to ensure they have the tools to protect our children.
Children as young as six are working from 3:00 AM to 8:00 PM, diving into dangerous waters to untangle nets. Many return with severe health issues, including hearing loss and Bilharzia, requiring intensive rehabilitation before they can ever return to a classroom.
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