Summary
REPORTAGE This boy is owned bargained for, bought and now risking his life for his slavemasters. One of 8.5 million child slaves in the world today, he makes a mockery of the notion that trade in humans has been abolished. For this special report, one of our most celebrated TV correspondents travelled the globe to uncover their horrific stories and reflect on how close he came to sharing the same fate.
By Rageh OmaarSee the full content of this document
Extract
For Sale: Boy, Slave, Pounds 25
The murky waters of Lake Volta appear limitless. This is one of the largest reservoirs in the world; it stretches through the heart of Ghana in West Africa for nearly 3,500 square miles; it is plainly visible from space. It is also an eerie place. From its depths protrude the broken and jagged stumps of what used to be one of the largest and most magnificent mahogany forests in Africa. The small and now lifeless tips of these giant trees stick out of the lake, lending the place the feel of apocalypse. But I can see a sign of life, and it breaks my heart.
A group of narrow wooden canoes is carefully navigating through the ghostly remains of the trees. These small boats are the foundation of a primitive fishing industry. The problem for the owners of the fishing boats is that their nets very often get stuck and torn on the branches of the submerged mahogany trees. There is only one way around this threat to their business. Th...See the full content of this document
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