Founded by Ghanaian social worker, Eric Peasah, Right To Be Free (RTBF) is a non-governmental organization incorporated in Ghana, dedicated to freeing women and children who are victims of slavery, exploitation and other oppressive conditions.  RTBF is committed and dedicated to prevention and protection of victims of human trafficking with special emphases on children and women.

Our Victim Protection Program

5 R’s Process:

Research: investigate areas where women and children are trafficked to and from.
Rescue: design a plan to free victims
Rehabilitate: place rescued victims in a safe setting where they receive counseling medical evaluation and treatment, psycho-social counseling and academic education.
Reunite: return victims to appropriate family members/caregivers.
Reintegration: continue to monitor recovering victims for approximately three years to ensure their successful reintegration into their villages, provide financial support (e.g. micro loans) to families/caregivers where needed  and support their education or vocational training.

Eric Peasah has dedicated much of his life to rescuing trafficked children.  In Ghana, he and his team identify trafficked children working on and along Lake Volta as fishing children, cattle herdsmen, or as domestic servants in nearby villages. We have a special focus on children trafficked in the fishing region along Lake Volta in Ghana. These children are forced to work in the hazardous fishing trade, some as young as five years old. Most of these children work 14 hours a day, seven days a week, and receive only one small meal, which is often withheld as punishment. Every day they endure emotional and physical abuse, while being denied access to medical care and the opportunity to go to school.

Eric creates a relationship with their masters to improve the welfare of the children as he works to secure their freedom. Once rescued, the children are brought to the Rehabilitation Center in Accra, the capital of Ghana.  During their rehabilitation, they receive medical, educational and ongoing psychological counseling and services.  These rescued children are reunited with their parents, relatives or guardians, who are provided with micro-loans to enable them to support the children and other siblings to prevent re-trafficking.

Prevention

RTBF strives to stop trafficking at its root cause. Our staff works year round with local villagers to educate them about the dangers of human and child trafficking. Many parents believe they are giving up their children for a better life, as fishermen falsely promise to send their child to school or to teach them the fishing trade. Where necessary, we provide micro-loans to victims’ parents/guardians to support their path to financial independence. We educate fishermen about the legal and social consequences of child labor and provide alternate fishing methods or occupational training.