Ormond and Isaac

We suspected there might be trouble ahead with Kweitey’s master, Christian. We made arrangements for George and Alex to conduct the parental visit before too much time lapsed. The visit was made and permission granted for us to take custody. The very next day we knew we'd made a wise choice in moving quickly when the very next day Christian made his move. He declared that Kweitey’s mom had asked that he retrieve him. Albert told Christian that he was a liar and that the mom had both talked with Kweitey and given us custody.

Sunday afternoon we traveled to the island of Old Nkomi to pick up Ormond. What a surprise! Ormond was dressed up, clean and escorted by a woman as well as the master who agreed to release him. We learned that 18 months earlier the master had gone north to the home of Ormond and his brother having heard that their mother was widowed. He offered her the equivalent of U.S. $130 along with the promise that he would “apprentice" her two sons and send them to school. She agreed to it. Some time later she learned that not only were her sons being deprived of school but that the apprentice training amounted to forced child labor and downright slavery at worst. She made the trip to the Volta Region, found her sons and was working off the money she’d received to set them free.

We were not able to secure Dada’s (the older son) release, but we are working on it.

Ormond was pretty frightened when the got to the boat.



As dusk approached, we made our way to the island of Akigogomi. Isaac and his “uncle” were nowhere to be found. It was almost dark as I walked into the village to see Isaac running straight toward me – and jumped into my arms. He was hanging on so tightly that we all broke in to joyous laughter!


Ormond had come along with us and seemed to be a little jealous of the whole situation so he got as close as he could so that he could get in on all the hugging.


We gathered our boys and boarded the boat to head to Kete Krachi in the dark.