Boys of Volta

Lake Volta is the largest man-made lake in the world. Spanning across half of Ghana, its surface is scattered with eerie tree trunks emerging from glassy waters. The trafficking of children and child labor in this region has a lot to do with the complex economic and social history of the Ghanaians residing around the lake. Young children are targeted for fishing because of their mobility and small hands for untangling nets. “We spent the whole morning on Lake Volta yesterday and came across countless boats mostly filled with children, many as young as 6. Many of the boys forced to fish on the lake aren’t allowed to go to school and often must wake up at 4AM to set nets. Children are often in charge of untangling nets from all the trees and shrubs underwater. Because the water is quite murky, they have to be very good at holding their breath for long periods of time. The hard life on the water is all these kids know. The beauty of Lake Volta juxtaposed with this harsh reality is quite sobering.” – Jeremy Snell